MOTOR TYRE STOLEN

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1935, Page 7

MOTOR TYRE STOLEN

MAGISTRATE IMPOSES FINE. MANAIA MAN ADMITS GUILT. For stealing a motor-car tyre valued at £3 13s 6d from Ernest Whitwell’s garage. New Plymouth, about October, 1934, Jack Johnstone, Manaia, was fined £4, in default six weeks’ imprisonment, by Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., in the RaCourt yesterday. Johnstone, at the time of the theft a service car driver, pleaded guilty. Sergeant J. Henry conducted the prosecution. On May 21 Constable Scannell received information that the tyre was in a Manaia house, said Sergeant Henry. The constable visited the house but did not find the tyre. Johnstone said that he had received a tyre from- Mr. P. E. Stainton, New Plymouth, but when inquiries were made it was discovered that the tyre had been stolen from Whitwell’s garage. Johnston was at the time a service car driver. The tyre had not been used. Nothing was known against Johnstone.

Johnstone in reply to questions said he had taken the tyre on the spur of the moment. He was 28 years of age and divorced from his wife, paying 5s maintenance £or his child. He had left the service car company’s employ and was now on relief work at ,15s a week. He had taken the tyre to give to the people with whom he was staying at Manaia. He was now living with a family on Palmer Road, but he had no means of getting money other than relief work. “I don't want to send you to gaol,” said the magistrate, in imposing the fine. Two months were allowed to pay.