CAR “BORROWERS’"

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 148, 13 September 1927, Page 1

CAR “BORROWERS’"

ACTIVITIES OF A GANG YOUTHS ADMIT EIGHTEEN CHARGES •fHEEE are 18 motor-car owners in Auckland who would I probably like to have five minutes with the youths who borrowed their cars for “joy-riding” purposes. Amazing disclosures of the activities of these pirate pests were made in the Police Court to-day by Chief Detective Cummings.

fpHE story of the activities of four youths was told when Walter Richard Dear,, aged 19, and Cecil George Robertson, aged 17, were charged with converting a car to their own use on September 1. Chief-Detective Cummings said that numerous other charges were pending against the accused. Their counsel, Mr. Oliphant, applied for suppression of their names on the ground that there was no evidence yet as to their guilt. Mr. Cummings: There’s clear proof that they have converted cars to their own use all over Auckland. Mr. Oliphant: I don’t know what they said In their statements, but there’s no proof yet.

The magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt: Well, let us have some proof. Constable Stevenson, who, with a detective, took statements from the accused, said they admitted converting 10 cars to their own use, and there might be still more. Their mates, who were before the court yesterday, admitted eight similar offences.

The magistrate: I think that is proof enough. Mr. Oliphant: Well, I ask for bail. Mr. Cutten fixed ball yesterday for the other two at £SO.

Mr. Hunt: I make the bail £2OO in each case—these are most serious charges. They were remanded to appear next Monday.