CONVERSION OF LAUNCH

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20919, 26 September 1939, Page 8

CONVERSION OF LAUNCH

DANCE PARTY TAKEN OUT RELATIVE’S MOTOR-CAR USED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Tuesday John Charles Alien Olsen, aged 23, seaman, pleaded guilty in the Police Court today to a charge of unlawfully converting at Auckland in June, 1938, the launch Kiritia, valued at £I2OO, the property of Winstones, Limited; and at Nelson on September 11 last a motor-car valued at £3OO, belonging to Leo Patrick O’Connor. The police said Olsen was permitted to live aboard the launch, which was tied up at a wharf. After a dance there was a party of men and girls aboard. Beer was drunk, and later Olsen took the launch out on the harbour without permission or the necessary certificate. On September 11 he took a relative’s car in Nelson, drove 103 miles and ran out of benzine, and abandoned the car. “He has not been in trouble before. He has been running a bit wild,” said Detective-Sergeant McHugh. Defending counsel, Mr Noble, said the launch conversion was only a technical offence. Olsen steered it only a couple of hundred yards in a spirit of bravado. The magistrate, Mr C. R. Orr Walker, said he thought he could deal leniently with Olsen. On the first charge he was fined £3, and on the second charge he was admitted to probation for one year and ordered to pay £2 expenses to the owner of the car.