THEFT OF ENGINE AND SAW

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1932, Page 3

THEFT OF ENGINE AND SAW

PLANT SOLD TO ANOTHER. YOUNG MAN CONVICTED. The theft of a benzine engine, saw and bench valued at £lO, the property of Wm. Alfred Wilson, Eltham, was admitted at the Eltham Police Court yesterday by a young man, Arthur William Spargo. He elected to be dealt with summarily and modified his plea by stating that he was under the impression that the engine and saw bench was under offer of sale to him. He admitted that he had no right to act as he did in selling it to N. Lee, but he thought he would be able to pay for

Sergeant Henry in outlining the case for the police said that a man named Paton and Spargo were allowed to. use the saw and engine, it being removed about 12 months ago to Lee’s place at Kaponga. Spargo sold it to Lee for £7 10s about. May, 1932. After the negotiations Wilson got to hear of it and wrote to Lee asking that the:, engine jbe - returned, but Lee refused. They both went to Hawera and saw Spargo, who admitted he had no right to sell it, but said he would buy it from Wilson: for £l5, agreeing to pay £3 a month. However, none of the money had been paid. Lee had obtained a judgment for £l5 against Spargo, but he afterwards found that Spargo had no right to dispose of the engine. Wilson would have' been prepared to - have allowed Sparge to have the engine if he had paid £lO. The magistrate: The whole thing seems to.be mixed up with money transactions. I wish you were represented by counsel.

Defendant: I was under the impression when I sold the engine that it was under offer to me.

The magistrate: What I want to know is how you came to be under that impression. • William Alfred, Wilson said that when he was farming at Pukengahu he possessed a circular saw, engine and bench. When he left the farm he moved it to Rowan Road. About 12 months ago he went to Moeroa and worked with Paton and the defendant. Witness arranged with Jack Hamilton for .the latter to have a v trial of the engine at £lO and Spargo took it out, but Hamilton did not buy. While at Moeroa Paton and Spargo used -the bench, but. witness received nothing for it. He never offered to ■ sell it to' defendant. After witness left Moeroa Spargo/ went to live .at Manaia Road, Kaponga, taking the engine with him. Witness agreed that he could have the-use of the engine if he gave him some wood, but he had received very little wood. When he received an offer for the- bench from Mr. Norris, Eltham, witness went to Lee’s.: place but found that Spargo had sold the plant to Lee for £7 10s and had' removed to’ Hawera. Lee and witness went to Hawera and saw Spargo, who admitted that he had sold the plant to Lee, also that. he had no right to do so. He offered Lee another engine if he would return this one to witness, but Lee would not do so. - Witness agreed to sell the engine to Spargo for £l5. ( Defendant: I was under the impression that I was told by Wilson-1-could take over the engine. Witness: He said he would have liked to have taken it over if he had the told him I-wanted the money, but’he could have the I .loan of it. Defendant: I wouldn’t argue the point on that I am quite certain I mentioned I would buy the engine from Wilson. The "magistrate: That is not enough. I think you are right, in pleading guilty. Wilson is entitled to the engine. There was no justification for selling it. I will convict and admit you to probation for 12 months; you will also have to pay the costs £1 3s 6d.