SIX MONTHS' GAOL FOR CAR CONVERSIONS

Chronicle (Levin), 12 June 1946, Page 2

SIX MONTHS' GAOL FOR CAR CONVERSIONS

On J u iio 8 two young men arrived in Palmerston Nortli from Inumaiunui and booked in at an hotel. In the eveuing tlioy "stole" a car (a Moms) valued at £250, tlie property of Mr. D. E. P. Watson, and drove it to leildmg where they '-stole" anotlier car (a mllniau) valued at £300. They drove both cars back to Palmerston Nortli and abandoned the iirst-mentioned oue Ln Boundary Road. They drove the other oue to Napier where they used it for some tiiue. When it developea engine trouble they abandoned it on tlie roadside and later '-collared" anothei Hillmau from Dalton (Street and drove it through to Palmerston North. So far everything had gone "according to plan." The mormng they arrived iroin Napier, liowever, the Napier poliee sent word through that the car had been eonverted and a few moments after recipt of the report Constable G. L. Cudby left tlie Police (Station on cycle patrol, ln Rangitikei btreet he s'avv the missing car and followed it. When it drew into the side of the road the constable ideutified it as the oue stolen from Napier and promptly arrested the driver and his companion. Vesterdav Donalcl 'Early Martin and Ronald Leslie Allen appeared in the Magistrate's Court in Palmerston North, to ansvver charges of haviug unlawfullv eonverted to their own use the Hillmau "stolen" from Feilding and the Morris "stolen" in Palmerston North. They elected to be dealt with sumnmrily and pleadcd guilty. Detective «L G. Long, who conducted the prosecution, told the Magistrate, Mr. C. C. Marsaek, S.M., tliat both men were at present 011 probation, and he conimeiited the work of t onstable Cudbv, who had identihed the car. The Magistrate asked if accused had anvthiug to sav. Tlicy had not, and the Magistrate said he intended to impose terms of imprisonment six nionths ' on each cliarge, the sentences to be concurrent.