STOLE TWO MOTORS, IT IS ALLEGED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17879, 22 June 1926, Page 7

STOLE TWO MOTORS, IT IS ALLEGED.

RETIRED NAVAL OFFICER TO STAND TRIAL. A charge of stealing two motor ears was preferred against Norman Frank Welters, aged 27. described as an agent, at the Magistrate's Court this morning. Welters appeared last Saturday, when he was remanded. On that occasion, he said he was a retired naval officer. He pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial. He was charged to-dav with stealing one motor car, valued at £l6O, the property of the Dominion Motors, Ltd. He was also charged with stealing a motor car valued at £155, the property of the New Zealand Automobiles, Ltd. Mr H. A. Young, S.M.. was on the Bench. Chief Detective Gibson prosecuted and Mr Bell represented the accused. Frederick James Tattle, manager of the Dominion Motors, Ltd., told the Court that he had only seen the accus ed once, that was on the night, he was arrested. On January 7, a Rugby ca v was hired to accused under the hir=. purchase system The value of the car was £l6O. He paid £25 deposit and had paid £55 altogether. Welters had no right to part with the car. Den William Perrier, a tailor of 648. Colombo Street, said that he met accused on June 9. He bought a Rugby motor car for £95. Witness paid the money and obtained a receipt. Walter F. Blackwell, manager of theretail department of the New Zealand Automobiles, Ltd., said Welters approached him in May, when some work was being done in the workshop. He stated that he was thinking of purchasing a car, as the car he had belonged to his employers, and was being repaired. He was lent a car for two or three days, and eventually purchase i a car for £155, signing an agreement. The arrange ent was that he was to pay £4O deposit. On June 1, he paid £ls deposit and he was to find the ’ rest within a short period. Accused had no right to sell the car. Herbert Coels, a fruiterer, said that on May 28, he purchased a Rugby car from Welters. Witness paid accused £6O cash for the car, obtained a receipt and had not seen him singe. Detective Mayne said that on June IS at 5.15 p.m., Detective Thompson and himself arrested accused on a warrant in respect to the Dominion Motors’ car. When he read the warrant to Welters, he said, "Yes, that’s right.” On the way to the police station, Welters said that he had stolen the clr because he was in debt. He said that he would pay off the deficiency if he got a chance. He admitted the theft of the second car yesterdayAccused reserved his defence ana pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial to the Supreme Court on August 17. Mr Bell asked for bail. Chief Detective. Gibson said that he would not object, but he asked that the amount be substantial. “Do you know anything of him?” asked the Magistrate. “His character is not of the best, and I cannot say anything of him. We know nothing of his people,” said Ghi?f Detective Gibson. Bail was allowed in £3OO and one surety of £3OO. Mr Bell asked for the suppression of accused’s name. He said that Welters had a position to go to. The Magistrate: I do not think it is a case for suppression.