FANCY FOR MOTOR-CYCLES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3052, 13 April 1917, Page 9

FANCY FOR MOTOR-CYCLES

YOUNG MAN!S THEFTS. By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. YVanganui, April 12. ■ A story of a young mail's lapses was told .iu : ,the. Magistrate's Court this morning. The accused was a young man named Percy Ericksen, alias Peter, Erickson, alias Frederick Bowman. Prior to the charges heard this morning, accused-was awaiting sentence oil nine other, charges of theft from dwellings, included in which were six motorcycles.- The total value of the articles and the money stolen amounted to £316. The evidence was to the effect that Erickson had a mania for motor: cycles—that he would enter a town, steal a motor-cycle, and make off to another toiyn where lie would dispose of it for less than a quarter of its value. If -he happened to be short of money accused would break and enter a dwelling, and would help himself to the contents of cash-boxes, etc., and make' off/ - He also represented himself to be' a discharged soldier oil one occasion.- . This morning there were four fresh charges preferred against.accused, as follow:—(1) On October 4, 1916, at Wanganui, he did break and enter the shop of Stanley Wilson, cycle agent, Liverpool Street, Wanganui, and steal a cash-box ar.d its contents containing £9 ,15s.' 4d.; (2) on November 6, at Woodville, he did steal a motor-cycle ..valued at £50, the property of Jetliro Smith; (3) on November 13, at Wanga- ! nui, -he did steal : motor-cycle valued at £30; (4) on November 18, at Spreydon; he. did steal a motor-cycle valued at £40; the property of Amos Leonard Stokes. Evidence for the prosecution wag "given hy Stanley "Wilson, Senior Sergeant Simpson, of 1 Dannevirke, Plainclothes Constable Black, of Wellington, and several others. Accused, on being formally charged, pleaded guilty to the first three charges, and was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence. On the ap-' plication of Senior Sergeant Bourke, who conducted the prosecution, accused was : remanded to appear at Wellington on April. 18, on the fourth charge.