MISSING MOTOR-CAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 143, 18 June 1936, Page 9

MISSING MOTOR-CAR

FOUND IN BACK-COUNTRY SHED VEHICLE REPAINTED YOUNG MAN ADMITS GUILT. ( From Our Own Correspondent. ) TAIHAPE, June 17. Ronald Victor Sutton, aged 19 years, pleaded guilty at the Taihape Magistrate’s Court yesterday to the theft of a Morris motor-car valued at £2OO, the property of David Scott, a well-known Taihape farmer. Accused admitted that he took the car from outside the Town Hall, Tai hape on Saturday evening and drove it to Koeke, where he housed it in a shed and repainted the car blue, though its original colour was red. The painting was done by candle light. Messrs. E. Loader and E. J. Price, J.P.’s, occupied the Bench. Accused was represented by Mr. R. C. Ongley. Sergeant McCrae conducted the prosecution. The first witness called was David Scott, farmer, Papakai Hoad, Taihape. He said that he was the owner of a Morris “8” motor car. On Saturday evening his sou drove the car into Taihape and returned the same evening without the vehicle, stating that it had been stolen. The loss of the car was reported to the police, and was also announced over the wireless on Sunday evening. On Tuesday, June 16, witness and his son accompanied Constable Batchelor to Mr. J. McHardy’s

farm at Koeke, and the constable questioned button about the car. Accused was a farm hand employed by McHardy, and had the use of a shed ou McHardy’s property near the roadside. The shed was locked at the time, but accused unlocked it upon request, and witness identified the car in the shed as his property. The number plates had been removed and the body of the car had been repainted blue, the original colour being red. The paiut was still wet when the car was found in the shed. Witness took possession of the car and drove it back to Taihape. He valued the vehicle at approximately £2OO. As far as he knew there was nothing missing from the car. Jan Scott, son of the previous witness, said that he left the car in front of the Town Hall on Saturday evening while he visited the Public Library. He was in the library about 15 minutes, and when he returned the car was missing. The matter was reported to the police. Witness corroborated the evidence of his father and added that Sutton had produced the number plates when requested. Constable Batchelor stated, in evidence that when he interviewed Sutton at Koeke accused said that he had purchased a Hillman car from a salesman on June 15. The constable went on to describe how Scott’s car was found in a shed on McHardy’s property, newly painted blue. Accused, at first, denied having painted the car and removed the number plate, but after further questioning he admitted having stolen the car and repainted it. He also admitted removing the number plates which he subsequently produced from a box in the shed. He said ho had painted the car at night while it was in the shed. He had bought the paint from a store at Mataroa, and also a brush and some candles, so that he could carry out the job by candlelight. Constable Batchelor produced » statement signed by accused admitting his guilt. Sutton, on pleading guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence. Bail was allowed in one surety of £lOO.