CAR SET AFIRE ON LONELY ROAD.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 145, 20 June 1931, Page 15

CAR SET AFIRE ON LONELY ROAD.

ACCUSED ATTEMPTED DELIBERATE SWINDLE. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, June 20. Probation was recommended by the Probation Officer for Leonard Edward Swenson, aged twenty-four, who appeared for sentence in the Siupreme Court on a charge of committing mischief by wilfully destroying a motorcar with intent to defraud, but Mr Justice MacGregor said it appeared to him to be ridiculous to adopt such a course. Swenson, who was represented by Mr O. C. Mazengarb, was sentenced to twelve months’ reformative detention.

Evidence was given by Charles Cleaver, farmer, of Mataroa and Martin Swenson, an elder brother o£ the accused, of Swenson’s previous good character. They said he was a sober and industrious young man. His Honor said it was out of the question to grant probation. Swenson had purchased a motor-car on terms, and two days before the insurance policy was due to expire he took it out on to some lonely road and set it on fire. He then made application to the insurance company for £2OO for the destruction of the car by accidental fire. He signed papers and gave as an explanation of the fire an explosion which took place in some way he had been unable to account for. Subsequently he appeared to have weakened, and made a statement to the police admitting that he set fire to the car. His Honor said he had no doubt Swenson was a highly industrious young man, but he had attempted to deliberately swindle the insurance company, and it appeared to him that it was his plain duty to impose a term of imprisonment.