"LOW DOWN ACT"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 171, 22 July 1942, Page 6

"LOW DOWN ACT"

GAOL FOR BARMAN

MAORI'S MONEY STOLEN

"You have been dealt with leniently for offences in the past, but this offence was a particularly low down act, as the Maori trusted you," said Mr. J. Morling, S.M., in the Police Court to-day, when he sentenced Stanley James jansen, aged 38, a labourer, to six months' imprisonment. Jansen pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing £30 belonging to Peter Rawiri on July 13.

Detective-Sergeant J. Trethewey said Jansen was acting as a barman in a city hotel on July 13, when Rawiri asked him if he would look after some money for him. Rawiri handed Jansen £30 to mind, but almost immediately after the Maori left the hotel Jansen went to the manager and told him that his brother had been killed in action. Jansen also said that he could not do any more work that day. He stopped work and began drinking. A few days later Jansen ran into the Maori, who asked accused for his money. Jansen told Rawiri the money was in the hotel safe and gave him a note telling him to hand it to the manager, when he would receive the £'30. The Maori went to the hotel and saw the manager, but, of course, there was no money in the safe.

When arrested Jansen only had £3 left, having spent the balance in a short period. "There is nothing I can say in this man's favour," added Mr. Trethewey. "This appears to have been a deliberate theft."

Jansen had nothing to say to the magistrate.

As stated, Jansen was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.