THEFT OF MOTOR CAR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18235, 2 November 1933, Page 7

THEFT OF MOTOR CAR

YOUNG MEN GAOLED \ DETERRENT PENALTIES COMMENT BY JUDGE ■ (Per Press Association.) J AUCKLAND, this day. “I do not, of course, propose to take into account the agitation regarding the theft of cars,’' said Mr. Justice Smith in the Supreme Court when two young men appeared for sentence for having stolen a motor car. The comment arose from a statement made by counsel. The prisoners, Clement Robert Lawson and Thomas Edward Walsh, who were represented by Mr. W. Noble, had been found guilty of stealing a motor car owned by Andrew .Caughoy. It was stated at the trial that the car had been taken in Auckland and driven to V ellington. Air. Noble said he knew His Honor would take no notice of the tremendous agitation going on at present with regard to theft of motor cars. Lawson came out of ft Borstal institution lasi December. Counsel did not think he was a criminal. Walsh could not drive a car, and was merely a party to tho offence. Both were receiving sentences for offences committed on their expedition with the car. The judge said the jury was quite justified in finding that they intended to steal the car. A motor ear was a valuable piece of property. As a result, of the prisoners’ use of the car it had depreciated in value by £20(1. He. did not, of course, propose to take into account the knowledge he had that cars were converted for the time being, if not often stolen. Counsel had quite rightly emphasised the individual aspect, said the judge, but he could not overlook the effect of the public interests of the offence of which they had been found guilty. There was no doubt that Lawson had led Walsh. Lawson was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and Walsh to 12 months. The terms in .each case were cumulative upon the sentence each is now serving.