THEFT ADMITTED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21559, 23 January 1940, Page 4

THEFT ADMITTED

TRAFFIC INSPECTOR’S MOTORCYCLE By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, January 22 On September 10, 1937, a motor-cycle valued at £137, used by the Heathcote County Council Traffic Inspector, Mr A. J. Tait, for his patrol duties, was stolen from the garage at his home. The theft aroused considerable interest at the time, but, until recently, nothing further was heard. This morning, in the Magistrate’s Court, all that is left of the machine was produced as evidence against James Mervyn Philp, who was charged with stealing the motor-cycle. He also appeared on eight other charges, involving breaking, entering and theft. The charge concerning the motorcycle was heard separately, and on this count Philp, a blacksmith, aged 21, of Forbes Street, pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Many of the parts of the motor-cycle displayed as exhibits in Court were scarcely recognisable as such. A statement made to the police by Philp revealed that he had removed many of the parts from the machine and, after heating them over a forge, had crumpled them up and put them through a man-hole in his garage. The accused also pleaded guilty to the other charges against him and was committed for sentence.