ALLEGED MOTOR THEFT

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1928, Page 8

ALLEGED MOTOR THEFT

CAR CRASHES INTO A BANK SERGEANT MISSES COLLISION. MAN IN HOSPITAL, ONE ARRESTED. Two men allegedly stole a motor-car from N’gaere at 2.5 p.m. yesterday, and at 2.25 p.m. they crashed into a bank near the Te Roti factory, narrowly missing a car driven by Mr. Baden Henry, with Sergeant Henry, of Hawera, as a passenger. As a result of the escapade, one of the men is at present in the Hawera lock up, while the other is an inmate of the hospital suffering from a deep gash in his temple. 'The two men, James Murphy, a seaman, and George Larsen, came, it is understood, from Auckland. They were seen in Inglewood at 11 o’clock yesterday by a young man named Curr, who was also making his way south in search of work. Curr again saw them at Stratford later in the day and, after leaving Stratford, secured a ride on the same lorry on which they were riding. When the lorry turned off the main road before reaching Ngaero Murphy and Larsen were given a lift in a car but Curr continued on foot.

On approaching the Ngaere gardens Curr alleges he saw his erstwhile companions unsuccessfully try to start a sedan car and a motor-cycle. They were, however, more fortunate with a five-seater Dodge car, left outside Air. Moss’ nursery by Mr. John Brisco, of Manaia Road, Kaponga, and they drove off towards Hawera.

Curr immediately gave the alarm and the Eltham police were communicated with, but Constable Townsend wae just too late to intercept the men. It is reported that the car dashed over the intersection at Eltham at a fast pace. All went well until they were descending the hill from the Te Roti school, when, on account of its speed, the ear, after getting off the tar at the slight bend, swerved across the road and dashed into the bank just as Sergeant Henry’s ear came on the scene. It was only by swerving over to his wrong side that Air. B. Henry managed to get out of the track of the oncoming car and avoid what might rave been a serious smash.

The other car struck the cutting three times, ploughing a deep furrow in the side of the bank for a distance of about 12 yards. The impact tore off the rear" right hand mudguard and running board and shattered the wind screen, causing the gash in Larsen’s temple. The injured man was taken to the hospital by Constable .Pidgeon and his wound X-rayed, while Murphy was arrested.