STRIPPED MOTOR-CAR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 878, 23 January 1930, Page 11

STRIPPED MOTOR-CAR

MAGISTRATE’S COMMENT ON MEAN THEFT IMPRISONMENT FOR MONTH Hearing that detectives had traced goods stolen from a motorcar in Rosebank Road to his home, Frank Edward Yates left the vicinity, He was arrested yesterday, and at the Police Court today was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment. Y’ates, a salesman, aged 30, was charged with stealing on January 6, a tyre and rim, three side-curtains, and a kit of tools valued at £6 10s belonging to Egbert Henry Sawle. Mr. Fennell appeared for accused and entered a plea of guilty. Accused, according to Chief-Detec-tive Hammond, was living at Avondale. Complainant Tiad left his car outside his house in Rosebank Road, and later found it stripped of everything moveable. Detectives had traced the stolen goods to the house where Yates had been living, but he hearing of that, had gone away, being arrested only yesterday. Accused was a married man living apart from his wife, and was in employment. He had served a year’s probation for theft in 1927.

Mr. Fennell was of the opinion that accused’s action had been one of intoxicated devilment. He had been under the influence of liquor and was coming home from a party. He had made no attempt to sell any of the things he had taken. “Accused has a position to go to, and I hope vour Worship will admit him to probation,’ added counsel.

Commenting on the meanness of the theft, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., imposed a term of one month’s imprisonment. Mr. Fennell: He has not been before the court since 1927. Your Worship extended leniency earlier this morning to a prisoner who had not been before the court since 1927.

The Magistrate; There is a big difference between using a little loose language to a tramway motorman and thieving from an unattended motorcar.