TERM IN GAOL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 51, 2 March 1939, Page 10

TERM IN GAOL

CONVERSION AND FRAUD “You have a lengthy record and can’t expect leniency,” said Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Wanganui Magistrate's Court yesterday, in sentencing Thomas Samson Ewen Callender to six months’ imprisonment for the unlawful conversion of a motor-car and to four months’ imprisonment, concurrent, for incurring debt, by fraud. Norman Butcher was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on the conversion charge and three months on the fraud charge, the sentences to be concurrent. Detective-Sergeant J. K. Robertson said that Callender left Auckland by car on February 9 with a woman friend. They arrived at Wanganui on February 14, and the woman’s car was left in Dunlop’s garage. The Auckland woman and a Wanganui woman were later seen travelling to and from Chinese quarters in Upper Aramoho. Callender then met Butcher whom he had known in Auckland and the two men went to Dunlop’s garage to hire a rental car, paying a deposit, the agreement, being that the car was wanted for about 30 miles. The two men then motored to New Plymouth and on the way back to Wanganui picked up a gir] I hey knew in Hawera. From Wanganui they went to Bulls, where the rental car broke down. It was there they converted a car belonging to Stewart Escott. They attempted to tow the hired car, but. subsequently drove to Marton, returning to Wanganui in Escott’s car, which they later abandoned at Upper Aramoho. Butcher was arrested in Wanganui. and Callender in Hamilton. Both men pleaded guilty to the unlawful conversion of a car valued at £l5O, the property of Stewart Escott, and to a charge of having incurred a debt or liability and obtaining £l5 credit by means cf fraud from John Dunlop. Mr. B. Haggitt appeared for Butcher and asked for probation. In sentencing the accused, th? magistrate said that Callender had two previous convictions of car conversions and several other convictioYis. He was undoubtedly the ringleader. Butcher’s list was not bad and he was no doubt led into the escapade by the other man. “I cannot grant probation,” said Mr. Salmon. "These offences can't be met by probation now.”