THEFT OF CAR PARTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 74, 20 December 1937, Page 8

THEFT OF CAR PARTS

- Magistrate Extends Probation HASTINGS MAN CHARGED Jointly charged in the Magistrato 's Court at Napier this morning with tne t.heft of a motor horn, a car generator and a steering wheel, . valued at 25/-, the property of" George Leonard Pattison, and two bags of firewood valued at 6/-, the property of Gordon R. Thompson, Kenneth James Douglas and Harold Edward Roy Walton, both of Hastings, pleaded guilty. Walton also pleaded guilty to a ' charge of stealing two* motor "tyres, two rims, and a windscreen wiper, from Phyllis Hazel Long. The thefts took place at Waiohiki, Pakipaki, and Pukahu, and accused wero admitted to probation. Detective-Sergeant L. B. J. Revell, of Hastings, who prosecuted said that, except for the occasion on which the tyres and rims had been stolen by Walton, the pair had been together. The difficulty about , Walton seemed to be that he had bought a car and could not pay for its upkeep. Mr W. E.-Bate, for the defence, said t]iat Walton had submitted to a sudden temptation. As regards the wood, it had not been stolen for their own purposes, but had been purloined "with the best of intentions" for someone eise. The steering wheel and some other 6tnall parts had been removed from a car the accused had believed to be a derelict. The thefts were foolish actions, but had been a severe lesson to the accused. Walton had not previously been in trouble and Douglas had only once before been before the Court, five years ago. "It may have been foolish, but it is theft none-the less," said the Magistrate^ I£r J. .Miller. In both cases the probation offieer recommended probation, and .-Mr Miller cautioned Walton against living-- beyond his means. Both were conyieted and released on probation for a year.