CAR “BORROWER”

Wairarapa Daily Times, 15 March 1932, Page 6

CAR “BORROWER”

SENT TO GAOL. PALMERSTON N., Monday. Prompt action by a member of the Alanawatu Automobile Association’s patrol service was responsible for the apprehension by the police on Friday evening last of a youth who had desired to “borrow” a motor car parked on one of the city stands, and who had previously commandeered another vehicle at Hastings. Unfortunately, a companion escaped capture. The details of the case were revealed before Air J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Palmerston North Alagistratc’s Court- on Saturday, when J aim AlcCaullay, alias John Lewis Kerr, a labourer, aged 2b, with no fixed place of abode, appeared to answer three charges. Tho accused was charged with unlawfully converting to his own use at Hastings on 10th Alarcli a car valued at £IOO, the property of Airs Skipper; with attempting to convert a car to his own use at Palmerston North on 11th Alarcli, and with stealing a travelling rug, valued at £l, tlie property of Airs Skipper. The accused pleaded guilty on all counts. Senior-Sergeant Whitchousc explained that the accused had been licensed out from the Borstal. Ho had absconded from his service in Hawke’s Bay and had subsequently been joined by another youth. A car bad been reported missing from Hastings, and had been located at Palmerston North the next day. On Friday evening a patrolman had noticed two youths endeavouring to start a car on one of the stands • at°Palmerston North. . The man minding the cars in this section had no ticket to watch the vehicle, but questioned the voting men about this particular car. They replied that they could not start it, but would telephone to their uncle, to whom the vehicle belonged. Shortly afterwards two young ladies started the ear, and they told the patrolman that they had no knowledge of the youths whom lie had previously approached. The officer in charge of the area immediately notified the police, and Constable Busch apprehended the pair in King Street. During the questioning one of the youths escaped. The Afagistrate sentenced the accused to three months’ hard labour for the conversion of the ear at Hastings, and to one month on each of the t\\ o other charges, the sentences to be concurrent. —(P.A.)