"JOY RIDE."

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16032, 24 January 1920, Page 5

"JOY RIDE."

AN EXPENSIVE TRIP. PATEA YOUTHS’ ESCAPADE. Four Patea youths are now convinced that “joy riding” in other people’s cars is an expensive matter. They were charged at Patca on Thursday that on the 31st day of December, 1919, at Patea, they did unlawfully and without colour of right, but not so as to be guilty of theft within the meaning of the Crimes Act, 1908, take a motor-car valued at £4OO, the property of one Homy Crosbie. Defendants all pleaded guilty. It was stated by the police that on New Year’s Eve the accused came to town, found a motor-car and took it to Manutahi, and on returning the car went over the bank, considerably damaging it. The defendants got out and walked into town.

The agents for the car stated that it would cost £BO to £IOO to put the car in proper repair.

The Magistrate, Mr Wyvern Wilson, said that the result of their conduct was far beyond any fine that could be imposed, viz., £lO. He was going to see that they one and all made payment to the best of their ability. They would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence at any time when called upon during the next nine months. He wanted them to understand that if any of the conditions he was about to impose were not fulfilled then they would be brought up for sentence and would be sent to gaol. He could assure them of that. The conditions he was going to impose were (1) that they were to abstain from all alcoholic liquors for nine months and not to be found on licensed premises during that period; (2) that they were to report to the police at Patea once every month; and (3) that they were to pay compensation at the rate of £45 each to Mr Crosbie by 45 weekly instalments of £l, and also one guinea each towards Mr Crosbie’s legal expenses.