MOTHER INTERVENES

Evening Star, Issue 22453, 25 September 1936, Page 8

MOTHER INTERVENES

SDNS REMANDED IN CUSTODY SUCCESSFUL PLEA FOR RELEASE Dramatic intervention by the mother of one accused persuaded Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., to reverse his decision in the Police Court this morning that two of three lads charged with car conversion should be remanded in custody until Monday. When the magistrate ordered John Alexander William _ Forrester (21), a relief worker, Frederick Mason Forrester (18), a fur worker, and John Elliot Rowe (18), a fishmonger’s assistant, to be held in custody pending reports by the probation officer and child welfare officer, a woman rose in the body of the court and called out: “ May I speak? My boy has to go to work at 12.” She was ordered by the court orderly to come forward, and as she advanced she said; “ I cannot afford to lose the money.” She told the magistrate that she was the mother of two of the accused. Mr Bundle pointed out to her that the youths were apparently under no influence. Referring to the charges, Mrs Forrester said the complainant had no right to let her son have the car. He had been driving her about. She and the other boy involved should also have appeared in court. The Magistrate : Which boy ? Mrs Forrester: You know, lam not going to mention names. Chief-detective Young said the other boy had already appeared before the Children’s Court. “ My youngest boy will probably lose his job now,” said the mother. “ Why don’t you make it Saturday morning so that it will suit him?” “ Don’t you know that he is liable to imprisonment?” asked the magistrate. “Do you think it is a simple matter?” “ And I should be studied, too, ’ she replied. The Magistrate; Mrs Forrester, you can see what has happened to these boys. Something will nave to be done about them. John Alexander William Forrester was remanded in custody and the charges against the other two accused were adjourned till Monday. John Forrester pleaded guilty to two charges of converting a car valued at £BO, and the other two lads admitted one charge of conversion. Rowe smiled throughout the proceedings. Chief-detective Young said John Forrester had been engaged on several occasions to drive the complainant. On Sunday, August 23, he went to the garage, which was unlocked, in Maitland street, and took the car, picking up the two accused and two other lads in Princes street, at 11 p.m. They drove about the city till midnight, when two of the party were dropped, and then motored to Milton. The car was returned to the garage at 6 ; 45 a.m. Fred Forrester and Rowe denied knowing that accused had no authority on that occasion to take the car, and the police, had given them the benefit of the doubt. On September 5 John Forrester went to the garage and took the screws off the lock. He later picked up the two accused and a girl. After a drive about the city Fred Forrester and the girl left the ear, which was driven to Mount Cargill and Mosgiel, being returned to the garage at 5 a.m. No damage was done to the car, and the accused had supplied the petrol. “ The serious aspect of the case is the possibility of an accident when young fellows like these _ are driving cars,” pointed out the chief detective. John Forrester had the reputation of being a good driver. He was on relief work and resided with his widowed mother. Frederick Forrester had appeared before the Children’s Court, and Rowe, who was one of a family of 17, had also made a similar appearance. The Magistrate; What were their people thinking when they were driving about the country at night? The Chief Detective: They are like a lot of other lads. They seem to run the house and do what they like—not what their parents want. The - Child Welfare Officer said that there was always trouble when Rowe and the younger Forrester became associated. The youths had been ordered to be remanded in custody over the week-end when the mother made her presence known.