TRAIL OF CRIME

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 552, 3 January 1929, Page 1

TRAIL OF CRIME

ELUSIVE MOTOR THIEF

SENTENCE NEXT THURSDAY

Between .the months of August and November Francis Grantham Ralph, has stolen two cars, obtained one by fraud and committed two minor offences. He has been- trailed from Si. Heiiers Bay to Waimauku; from Waimauku to Ttrkomaru Bay.

This morning, at the Police Court, Ralph, a motor mechanic, aged 21, pleaded guilty to three - charges of theft and two of niakiAS false representations. Tli© first oliarge, which concerned the obtaining of a truck valued at £ 61J, Was reduced to make the value of the truck' £ 50, so that the offences could be dealt with summarily. Ralph then presided guilty on all counts. “In July Ralph obtained a car from Mr. Neil," of ' New Lynn,” said ChiefDetective. liarnmond-. “The arrangement. that .ha should pay £5 down for the car,, .which, was valued at £SO. and the balance by weekly instalments, lie paid £2 -down and took the car away, fie had no number plates on the car. so stole some from a garage at Waimauku.” According to the Chief-Detective, Ralph then exchanged the first car for another valued at £2O, representing that it was his own property. lie went away into the Country and made further deals, from one of which lie obtained £5 from Arthur AA'ingate at AVacrenga, by representing that the car he had with him was his - own and tlia he had the registration papers at h>'s home in Muriwai. The first charge related to a truck belonging to Bert AVoogford. Ralph had g-ained possesion of that by saying that-he was th-e brother of Albert Scottmg, a butcher, of St. Hollers, and that he was to hire it for £3 a week. “He drove it down to Tokomaru Bay.” continued the Chief-Detective, “and was arrested there. It will cost £2O to bring it back, as,the tyres are worn out. .And so he lias.been going on.” A remand was made for one week, so that Mr. I<\ K. Hunt. S.M., could consult the probation officer in regard to imposing- sentence.