TEMUKA THEFT OF CYCLE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21702, 10 July 1940, Page 3

TEMUKA THEFT OF CYCLE

Substantial Penalty Imposed Magistrate’s Court Sits “The story told by accused has been fabricated and I cannot accept his evidence,” said Mr H. Morgan, S.M.. in the Temuka Magistrate’s Court yesterday when he convicted Fredrick George Keast, of Geraldine, of the theft of a push cycle valued at £6, the property of R. T. Sadler, of Geraldine. “In view of the fact that Keast has not been on trial before I will not impose a term of imprisonment. You will be fined £7/10/- and ordered to pay costs.” Accused pleaded not guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily. Sadler said that on June 18. 1939. he had left his cycle against a telegraph pole, a tyre having been punctured. When he returned on June 26, it was no longer there. In April he saw a boy, son of the accused, riding a cycle which appeared to be his. Later he had a better opportunity of inspecting the cycle and he was satisfied that it was his. He and the constable visited Keast and asked for particulars. Keast said that he had purchased the cycle from H. Allchurch and Co., Timaru. Keast said that he had purchased the cycle in Timaru. said Constable J Robertson, of Geraldine. When he had asked for a receipt Keast had been reluctant to produce one. Two days later he received a receipt from Keast purporting to come from H. Allchurch and Co. for £7. The letter “K” on the receipt had the same characteristics as the one in his initial in the statement. In Keast’s workshop there was a blotch of paint on the wall similar in colour to the paint on the cycle. An employee of Allchurch, Co., V. A. Hahn, said that the receipt had not been issued by his firm. In reply to Sergeant M. E. Hill, who prosecuted, Keast said that he had first gone to Morton’s auction room and inspected cycles. He saw there a man with his coat off and sleeves rolled up. It was this man who later had sold him the cycle at Allchurch’s. The Magistrate said that the identification marks on the cycle made it appear that it was Sadler’s. Accused had produced a receipt which obviously had not been given by Allchurch and Co. If Keast’s story were true it was peculiar that the cycle which was lost should be the one which he had purchased from Allchurch. He could not accept the evidence of accused which he thought had been fabricated. It appeared that Keast had hidden the cycle until it was safe to alter it. An order for the return of the cycle to Sadler was made. Other Cases In a reserved decision the Magistrate dismissed a charge against Ballins Breweries Ltd. of having under its control labels for liquors such labels not having imprinted “Bottled in New Zealand" and thus having

aided, W. J. Quirke, licensee of the Arowhenua Hotel, to commit an offence. It was a serious case, said the Magistrate when he imposed a fine of £5 on M. A. Weaver, of Geraldine, for failing to pay his Social Security levy from August, 1937. On a further charge of the same nature Weaver was convicted and ordered to jay 10'costs. For having no warrant of fitness, H. McDonald was fined 10/- and costs A. G. Saunders was fined £1 and costs for possessing an unregistered motor vehicle, and for having no driver’s licence was fined 10 - and costs. W. J. Adams was fined 10/- and costs for having no driver's licence. Judgment Summons E. G. Holden was ordered to nay Timaru Motors Ltd. 19 2 on or before July 23. in default one day’s imprisonment at Temuka. L. J. Whiting was ordered to pay A. C. and D. S. Mclnnes £2/12 6 before August 9 in default two days’ imprisonment at Geraldine. Anthony O'Connell was ordered to pay F. Saunders £7 19/2 forthwith in default seven days’ imprisonment, the ! warrant to be suspended so long as 15/- a week is paid, the first payment to be made before July 23. PERSONAL The Postmaster, Mr L. W. Parrant. has resumed his duties. “ESCAPE TO PARADISE” Riotous romance, exciting adventure and tuneful melodies against a rich tropical background of Latin America are brought to the screen in Bobby Breen’s latest starring film, "Escape To Paradise.” showing at the Elite Theatre to-night. In a little South American seaport town Bobby, as operator of a battered motor cycle taxi, meets all the boats. On one of these comes playboy Kent Taylor, an American on a perpetual vacation There’s a girl, Marla Shelton, a brunette vision, as a senorita; a believable and not too heavy villain. Robert O. Davis, and “another woman,” splendidly portrayed by Joyce Crompton. One of the highlights of the film is the picturisation of a traditional Fiesta in which native dances and songs are brilliantly captured by the camera. Bobby’s song numbers include "If Your Heart Could Speak,” a ballad of the popular type; "Tra-la-la,” an exhilarating song on the order of a polka; "Rhythm of the Rio," a marching tune; “Jurame,” a delightful serenade with more than a hint of tango rhythm; “Ay Ay Ay,” one of the most famous of all South American tunes, and “Vidalita,” a haunting musical lament that owes its origin to the gauchos of the Argentine.