A BAD RECORD

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 34, 10 February 1933, Page 7

A BAD RECORD

AMERICAN MECHANIC

21 CONVICTIONS SINCE 1929

Although ho arrived in New Zealand as recently as 1929, John Edward Owens, an American mechanic, aged 38, had a record of 21 convictions when he appeared before Mr. lE. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day, and pleaded guilty to four charges, involving false pretences and theft.

On 12th January, said Sub-Inspector Ward, the accused went to the house of a Mrs. Barnett at Newtown and posed as a radio inspector from 2YA. He said he was looking for a "short" in her wireless set. He took out some parts which he pretended to repair and by these means obtained 3.0s 6d from Mrs. Barnett. The accused also gained possession of the loud speaker fnrini the sot by stating that it was in need of repair. When at Petone the accused went to a man and obtained 10s 6d from him by falsely representing that it was wanted by a neighbour to buy petrol with. At Povirvia he obtained somo petrol and oil by a similar false pretence.

Since coming to New Zealand in 1929 from America, continued the Sub-Inspec-tor, the accused bad had twenty-one convictions—the majority of them were for dishonesty, and tho accused had qualified for a term of. reformative detention. He was at present, serving a sentence of two months' imprisortmeut at Palmerston North. ■ '■'

In asking the Magistrate if he had power to deport him to his native country. America, the accused said that drink had been his downfall ever since he had been in this coimtry. Mr. Page said lie had no power to make the order. He sentenced the accused to reformative detention for three years on one of^ the charges and one each o£ the others he convicted him. and ordered him to come up for sentence within three years if called upon. •