CHARGE OF DESTROYING CAR

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1929, Page 6

CHARGE OF DESTROYING CAR

v ßy Telegraph-Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Oct. 17

A charge of wilfully destroying a motor-car valued at' £95, the property of the Traders’ Finance Coy., Ltd., was preferred against Leo Matthew Dwyer, aged 28, in the Police Court. Mrs Kathleen Dwyer, the proprietor of the Accommodation House at Nihitapii, said that the accused who was her son, lived with her. Witness purchased a motor-car in 1925 on the time-payment system, paying £3O deposit. An arrangement was entered into between the firm from which the car was purchased and the Traders’ Finance Coy., whereby witness was to make monthly payments to the latter Company. Some of the payments became overdue, and the accused, left for Auckland on September 14th. to arrange a loan to pay the remaining money owing on the car. He returned oil September 14th. and next morning witness was informed by the accused that lie had had an accident, and that the car was destroyed. An accountant of the Finance Coy. gave details of arrangements entered into with respect to the car. The car was insured under a comprehensive policy, and the company made application for the amount of insurance.

A motor engineer said that he went to Nihotapu, acting on instructions from the insurance adjuster. The car was 50 yards or 60 yards down a bank. There were no marks on the road to show that the car skidded, but there were wheel marks where the car left the road. An examination of the vericle showed the handbrake was in good rdef. A wire which had been the headlight wire, had been doubled back to remain in position alongside the carburettor. The wire was tied with a handkerchief, which showed signs of having been scorched. This caused witness to he suspicious that there had been ail attempt to cause the car to he destroyed by fire.

Tn a statement produced, the accves'l said he was returning from the city on the evening of September loth, when he experienced trouble with the lights of the car. He tied the handkerchief round the wire to stop a short circuit. Later a blockage in the the benzine tank occurred, and he rectified this with a stick. Another blockage occurred, and lie then applied the hand brake and left the car to obtain a fern stick.. The car. which was facing uphill, commenced to move baekards, and lie was unable to stop it from going over i! cliff.

A plea of not guilty was entered.

The accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.