TWO YOUTHS IN TROUBLE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20781, 16 July 1937, Page 13

TWO YOUTHS IN TROUBLE

ATTEMPT TO SEIZE YACHT “STUPID AND FOOLISH” By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, July 15. A story of projected adventure on high seas was told at the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when two youths appeared on charges involving the alleged conversion of the 55-foot ketch-rigged cruising launch Wairangi, owned by Mr W. R. Carey, of Christchurch. Mr F. F. Reid, S.M., was on the Bench and the prosecution was conducted by Sergeant D. Wilson. James Carter (17), and Arnold Averts (18). were charged with having, on June 24. unlawfully converted to their own use a launch valued at £3 000, the property of W. R. Carey, also with unlawfully converting to their own use a boat valued at £2O the property of Ronald Kennett,, and on July 21, a boat valued at £lB the property of Trevor Harkness. Both pleaded not guilty to the charge of converting the launch and guilty to the other two charges. Sergeant Wilson said that the two youths had arrived at Lyttelton on Monday, June 21, and had cut the chains of Harkness’s dinghy .and used It to board the Wairangi. They had returned to Christchurch that night, arriving back in Lyttelton by the last train. They spent the night on board the Wairangi, going to Christchurch again next day. When they returned they found the dinghy gone, so they took Kennett's dinghy. They remained aboard again on Tuesday night, and again visited Christchurch on Wednesday. On Thursday afternoon the owner of the Wairangi, with a companion happened to visit the Wairangi and they found that it had been occupied and later discovered the two accused aboard. Owner Threatened In evidence, Carey, general manager of the Kaiapol Woollen Company., Ltd., said that at 1.25 on June 24 he visited his launch the Wairangi. When he approached the launch he saw a dinghy on the deck, and that some of the portholes of the launch had been closed and covered. He boarded the launch and found the door fastened from within. He went to the wheel-house and looked through the windows, and saw two bicycles inside. He looked down the skylight o: the saloon, and saw guns lying on one of the seats. His companion Fielden, unscrewed one of the skylights and they entered the launch. Fielden opened an Inner door. They found two very wet coats belonging to the launch in the engine-room. The lighting system had been fused and the engine had been in use. Fielden entered the after-cabin, and witness saw some men appear at the door in a threatening attitude, exclaiming: “We are desperate. Stick ’em up. We have taken the ship and are putting to sea to-night.’’ Witness saw the taller of the two accused,(Carter). One of them was holding a pistol. His Impression was that both men were armed. Witness and Fielden got off the launch as quickly as they could. They asked some men in the trawler Konini to watch the Wairangi as there were armed men aboard. Witness then saw two men come up on deck, and throw the dinghy in to the water and place some of their gear in It. He saw three splashes as if something was being thrown overboard. Then men sculled the dinghy towards the moles, but a south-west wind was raising a choppy sea, and they put back to the oil-wharf and landed with the assistance of some other men. Witness searched the reclaimed land and apprehended the two accused. He drove them to the Police Station, and handed them over to the police. On the way to the Police Station they said they would give him £5OO to let them off. Mr A. J. Malley for Averls: Could these men have taken the launch away?—The weather that day was a strong south-wester. If they had taken the launch out to sea that night they would have lost the ship and lost their lives. Mr Malley: Exactly. That is Just my point. They could not have taken the vessel out?—No, but you must give them credit for the intention. Brush With Counsel Mr Malley: I have no knowledge of their intentions—Well I have no doubt of their intentions, and so should you if you are their advocate. Mr Malley protested to the Bench about the demeanour of the witness. The Magistrate: We have every sympathy with your outraged feelings, Mr Carey, but you must answer the questions of counsel in a proper voice and in a proper manner. William Fielden, corroborated the evidence given by Carey. The Magistrate said he would convict on all charges. "You are two really stupid, foolish boys,” he told the accused. “If you had been a little older, it would have been my duty to sentence you to a sharp term of imprisonment.” On the first charge they would be admitted to probation for two years, a condition being that they paid the amount of damage to the Wairangi, amounting to £24/8/6, and a further condition was that they did not in future associate with each other. On the two other charges each was convicted and ordered to make restitution of the amount of the damage.