IRRESPONSIBLE YOUTHS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22986, 15 September 1936, Page 7

IRRESPONSIBLE YOUTHS

DRINKING IN TRUCK CHARGES OF CONVERSION DISMISSED “ You both ought to be ashamed of yourselves,” said Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., when dealing with two yquths who were charged in the City Police Court yesterday morning with drunkenness and with converting a motor truck to their own use. The defendants, who were represented by Mr J. G. Warrington, were Thomas Aaron Riddle, aged 24, and Cecil Ernest Goding, aged 21, and they pleaded not guilty to each charge. Senior Sergeant Packer said that Constable Clark noticed the two defendants in Cumberland street at about 9.20 p.m. on Saturday. Goding was in the driver’s seat of the truck, a half-ton vehicle owned by Mr William M'Leod, and Riddle was at the crank handle in front. When they saw the constable they went away, but returned in a few minutes and made another attempt to start the car. The walked off again when they saw the constable, but came back a third time and on this occasion got the engine to turn over. Constable Clark questioned the defendants, and Goding stated that Riddle had asked him to drive the car. He also said the vehicle belonged to a friend of his from Christchurch, and that they were going to takd two girls to a dance at the Early Settlers’ Hall. On the way to the station the youths tried to break away, but the constable caught them again. Evidence was given by John Aspinall White, a garage proprietor, who said the car had been placed outside the garage to be called for by the owner; William M‘Leod, the owner of the vehicle; and Constable Clark. Mr Warrington said that the defendants were on their way to a dance, where their partners were waiting for them. They had a bottle of beer with them and had had several other drinks before leaving home. They decided to drink the beer, so they got into the truck in order to be out of the way of the public. One got out of the truck first and placed the empty bottle in the gutter in front of the vehicle, and they then started to walk along to the hall. Noticing the lights of the truck on, however, they returned to put them out, and when getting out of the vehicle the second time one of the defendants trod on the self-starter and the engine turned over. They both denied returning to the truck a third time, and Riddle had not tried to turn the crank handle. If there had been no truck it was improbable the defendants would have been arrested for drunkenness. The defendants in evidence supported the story, and under crossexamination denied telling the constable the car belonged to a friend from Christchurch. “ The evidence of the constable is clear," said the magistrate, “ but there is some little doubt whether the defendants got into the. truck to drink or whether they meant to take the car away. In view of all the circumstances, however, they are entitled to have the conversion charge dismissed. “You ought to be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves,” said Mr Bundle to the defendants. “You set out to take respectable girls to a dance and then made fools of yourselves in the street. You are fortunate not to be convicted." > The charges of drunkenness were adjourned for 12 months, the defendants to take out prohibition orders and ' ; to pay witnesses’ expenses (17s 6d) between them.