CAR CONVERSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 266, 9 November 1937, Page 9

CAR CONVERSION

THEFT OF GOODS Maxwell Ernest Butler, alias Schultz, 25, motor mechanic, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with converting a car, valued at £245, the property of John Chitty, Hamilton, to his own use on October 30. Brian Chitty stated that he noticed his father's car being driven from opposite the Grand Central at Hamilton by accused. It was taken in the direction of the Great. South Road. He did not see the car again until he arrived in Wanganui yesterday. Some damage had been done to the car since it left Hamilton. Accused called at his father's place of business and wanted to sell cars on commission. The number plates had been changed on the car. There were three coats in the car when it was taken, valued at about £ll, and three steel measures. This property was missing. Detective E. H. Compton said that at 1 a.m. on November 7 he located accused at Wanganui. Accused admitted taking the car. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. He was also charged with stealing a pair of number plates, valued at 2s 6d; with stealing three overcoats valued at £ll, and steel tapes valued at £9, the property of John Chitty, Hamilton: with stealing a suit, shoes, and silk shirt, valued at £8 2s, at Te Kuiti, the property of P. A. Butler; with intent to defraud obtaining from R. W. Paxton. Hamilton, 14 gallons of benzine, valued at £1 9s 2d. To these charges he pleaded guilty, and on the charge of stealing goods valued at £8 2s he was sentenced to reformative detention for a period not exceeding 12 months and was similarly dealt with in regard to the theft of overcoats. On the other charges he was convicted and discharged. Accused stated that he had been injured in a motor-cycle accident and had just come out of hospital and did not know what he was doing. The magistrate, Mr. J. 11. Salmon, said accused had an extraordinarily bad list of previous convictions involving motor-car theft, false pretences, breaking and entering, credit by fraud, and theft.