ANOTHER MAN’S CAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19844, 19 May 1927, Page 11

ANOTHER MAN’S CAR

LEFT FOR REPAIRS UNLAWFUL CONVBESION. ONE MONTH, SAYS MAGISTRATE. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, May 18. “That’s what you do! A car is placed in your trust to repair, and you go joy-riding in it and get involved in an accident,” said Mr. Hunt, S.M., to Albert Edward Simpson (24), at the Police Court, in sending him to gaol for one month for having converted to his use a motor car valued at £75, the property of Frank Smith. Simpson was further charged with being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a ear in Karanghape Road. He denied both charges. Evidence was given that he collided with a cyclist and that he was under the influence of liquor. Two civilian witnesses and Sergeant Miller said the accused was staggering while en route to the police station and he was not in a fit state to drive the car.

Frank Smith, plumber, and the owner of the car, said that yesterday he gave it to a man named Ramsay, who got accused to pack one of the wheels. Both Smith and Ramsay said that accused had no authority to drive the car last night. He should have returned it earlier as he promised. Simpson told the Magistrate that he did not get the car repaired until yesterday afternoon. He then went down to a boat and took a friend of his, a steward, for a drive, to test the car. It was while driving it to try it out that accused met with the accident. Mr Hunt—That’s the defence, is it? You were asked to repair a wheel and then went out joy-riding. You are sentenced to a month’s imprisonment for converting the car to your own use and are convicted and discharged on the other charge. Your license is -also cancelled for twelve months.