YOUTHS’ ESCAPADE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16938, 12 January 1923, Page 7

YOUTHS’ ESCAPADE.

COMMANDEER FRIEND’S CAR. Six .youths, Andrew .Jamieson, John Ca&sells, Edwin Wedderspoon, Arthur William Thorpe, George Howitsou and «J oseph Hetherington were charged at. the Magistrates Court this morning before Mr Wyvem Wilson, S.M , that on December 3 at Christchurch the. unlawfully and without colour of right, but not so as to be guilty of theft, con rerted to their own use a motor car, the property of George Forsyth. Mr L-. A. Charles appeared for the defendants. George Forsyth, land agent, said that on December 3 his son took the car out once when it came back home i . was considerably damaged. One tyre and tube was spoiled, and the sell starter would not work properly. The approximate damage wa* about £lO. George Forsyth junior, said that on the morning of December 3, he and. a friend went out for a drive and they called in at. the Y.M.C.A. They were three young men whom he knew standing outside, and as he got out nt the oar they asked him for a ride, but he said nothing and went into the building. A few moments later lie heard the car starting and when he went outside he found that it wa-i gone. It was some time before it returned and he was standing on the footpath when it pulled up with the six defendants in it. They said that they had had a blew out and on hearing that it would cost about five guineas to buy a new tyre, they offered to pay £1 each towards the costs. To Mr Charles— : He had never given any of the defendants permission + o take the car.

Constable Kearton read a statement signed by AYedderspoon in which he said that he and the others had told young Forsyth as soon as he got out of the car that they were going for « ride, but he only smiled and said nothing. Five of them .lumped into tlie car. and he <Wedderspoon) having had experience took the wheel. The> went up St Albans, and on their way hack had a puncture and changed tlm tyre. .They told Forsyth what had happened and were prepared to pay. Forsyth appeared to be a bit annoyed and said lie would not have minded if they had not gone go fa?^ Mr Charles submitted that the case was not a serious one. and there was no intention of theft of the part, of the defendants. They had been guilty of a piece of mischief and each had now paid or was prepared to pay £1 IBs 4d to repair the damage.

The Magistrate fined each of the de fend ants 10s. and an order ivas made in each case for the payment ol £1 Is costs.