THREE MONTHS’ GAOL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1940, Page 4

THREE MONTHS’ GAOL

UNLAWFUL CONVERSION OF CAR. MASTERTON RESIDENT SENTENCED. Remanded from Masterton to the Wellington Magistrate’s Court, Ronald Edward Carlson, labourer, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour on a charge of unlawfully converting a car and was convicted and discharged on charges of theft of petrol. The facts of the case were that Mr A. A. Schofield, of Tinui, had his motor car removed from Chapel Street on September 20. He later found the vehicle in Villa Street, with evidence that petrol had been syphoned from the benzine tank. The rubber hose used had been left, and there’was also a motor cycle with the tank filled to overflowing nearby. It was surmised that the accused had been disturbed. Police investigations had been made. A few hours later Carlson reported at the Masterton Police Station that his motor cycle had been removed from outside the Regent Theatre, where he had been to the pictures with a man named Pollett. When interviewed Pollett denied having been with Carlson. Carlson was arrested by Constable R. L. Hollis and later admitted removing the car and taking the petrol. He afterwards admitted having also removed a gallon of petrol from a truck owned by Wong Nam, Masterton. The accused entered pleas of guilty and was subsequently remanded to appear at Wellington.