STOLEN CAR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 104, 23 December 1931, Page 6

STOLEN CAR

V two men in court SENIOR - SERGEANT COULD SAY NOTHING IN THEIR FAVOUR ONE CHARGED WITH THEFT Two men, Edward .McFarlane, aged 23, an American seaman who has been in New Zealand for about two years, and Maxwell Earnest j Butler, aged 19, a New Zealander whose parents reside in Paeroa, appeared in the Magistrate's Court, before Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., yesterday morning charged with the theft of a motor-car from Napier on December 19 and converting it for their own use. The vehicle was valued £250. Butler was separately charged with the theft of a hand ftiirror valued at 5/- and three keys valued at 3/-. On the charge of conversion both men pleaded guilty and were senteneed to three months' hard labour. On the theft charge, Butler was admitted to two years' probation. Senior-Seirgeant Carroll, in outlining the first charge, said that aecused, having taken the car from Napier, abandoned it at Tarawera owing to running out of benzine. They then got. a ride to the vicinity .of Taupo and proceeded on foot towards Rotorua. When near the Huka Falls they found a large red car parked on the roadside, but as they found they could not appropriate it tjjey stole the keys in the hope that these would fit some other car which they might find locked. Arreste-d In Rotorua They then got another lift in a motor lorry and arrived in Rotorua about 6 p.m. on Monday, when they were recognised by Constables Kelly and Brown from descriptions supplied. On being arrested in Fenton Street, Butler gave the assumed, name of Thomas, and both denied that they knew anything about the car. Later, however, they admitted taking the car. Previously Before Court When sear'ched at the police station Butler was found in possession of the missing hand mirror and keys. McFarlane had been before the court on three previous occasions. The Senior-Sergeant deseribed these men as "birds of passage" who were continually on the move loolcing for work. They took the car so that they could move more quiclily from one place to another. "There is an epidemic of car stealing of late," the sergeant stated, "and I can say nothing in these men's favour. He recommended that they receive a stretch of imprisonment as it was useless to deal with them any other way. Butler pleaded guilty to the charge of theft, the police stating that the owner of the car was unknown.