A HARD CHASE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 279, 24 November 1931, Page 6

A HARD CHASE.

Constable’s Car Does 60 Miles an Hour. OFFENDERS IN COURT. The story of a chase along the Sumner Road at one o’clock in the morning —two culprits on a motor-cycle travelling at fifty miles an hour and a police car roaring along at sixty miles an hour—was related in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. Thomas Kidd, an upholsterer, aged twenty-four years, residing at 23, Hay Street, and James Patrick Gleeson, a labourer, aged seventeen years, were charged with attempting to interfere with the working of a telephone under the control of the Minister of Telegraphs on November 14; (2) on November 10. theft of 5s lOd, the property of the Postmaster-General; (3) on November 14, interfering with the working of a telephone slot under the control of the Minister of Telegraphs; <4) a similar charge in respect of November 10; (5) ,(6) and (7) charges of wilfully interfering with telephone slot mach-

In addition, Kidd was charged with driving a motor-cycle at a dangerous speed on the Sumner Road; (2) not having a driver’s license; (3) using an unlicensed motor-cycle. Gleeson was charged also with breaking and entering the premises of Brown's Highbury Laundry and committing theft. He pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

The upshot of the charges is that Kidd will serve a sentence of three months’ imprisonment. Gleeson was remanded until December 1 for a report from the probation officer. Cyclists Made Off.

Chief-Detective Carroll, outlining the facts after both accused had pleaded guilty to the charges, said that the youths had been at Redcliffs on November 14 at 1.30 am. About that time Constable Johns, of Sumner, was informed that a telephone box at Redcliffs was being interfered with. He got his car out and when he arrived at the place found that the box, containing the money, had been removed from the machine and taken away. The constable drove a mile along the road and noticed two men on a motorcycle at the side of the road, facing toward Sumner. He pulled up alongside and immediately the pair set off at a fast pace, reaching 50 miles an hour. But the constable's car faster and reached 60 miles an hour. They circled the block and made back to Christchurch, but the constable was too fast and stopped them and took their names. He let them go on the understanding that they were to come back the following morning. lit the meantime Constable Johns went back to the spot where he first saw the youths and found threepence in the grass—the slot machine was a threepenny one—and part of the box from the 'phone. When they reported next morning he arrested them. In Bad Company.

It was found that the motor-cycle had last year's number plates painted over so cleverly that even a traffic inspector would find it difficult to detect. The youths admitted three offences relating to slot ’phones. It was little credit to them that they had admitted the offences, as the cases against them could be proved to the hilt. They had been seen and could be identified. They denied being responsible for all the damage that had been done to slot machines in the vicinity of Redcliffs and Sumner. Counsel for Kidd said that Kidd’s trouble was that he had been keeping bad company. He was not the originator of the idea, which had been suggested by someone else. Counsel for Gleeson said that he had been out of work and at a loose end. “ These offences are of the most serious nature,” said Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M. “The inconvenience and loss to the Department would be hard to estimate. The offenders can only hope to meet with summary punishment, and they are going to get it.” Bail was allowed Gleeson in the sum of £IOO and one surety of £IOO. Kidd was fined £lO and costs, in default a month’s imprisonment, for

using an unlicensed motor-cycle, 10s and costs, in default forty-eight hours’ for driving without a license, £4 and costs, in default twenty-one days* for driving In a dangerous manner, sentenced to fourteen days’ on the charge of theft, and three months* imprisonment with hard labour on each Of the remaining charges.