Secretary Was Depressed By Cemetery Life

Chronicle (Levin), 11 February 1948, Page 4

Secretary Was Depressed By Cemetery Life

pow, being depressed by life in a cemetery," he had bgun to dnnk, and had paid money belonging to his emplbyers ihto his bank account, but had never spent it, was reiated in General Sessions by George Arthur Glen, 52, former 'secretary to the trustees of the Melbdurne General Cemetery, Carlton. Glen, who gave his address as Chelsea Road, Chelsea, pleaded guilty to a charge of having, between January 1, 1946, and September 13, 1947, stolen £607, the property of the cemetery trustees. Mr. J. W. Galbally (for Glen) said Glen had been employed at the cemetery for seven yars. The work was monotonous, and he had felt keenly jthe lack of social inter■course with' other people. He and /Ihis wife had found it difficult to ask people to the cemetery at night, feeline that it was not much of a

place at which to entertam. Glen liked a glass of ale, but his wife objected to his going to an hotel, and he had become morbi'd, seeinglittle or. nothing of his fellow men. Glen had then become a "silent drinker," and at night, in a weak mental and mbral state, had conceived the idea of manipulating the accounts. Glen was relieved when at last his fraud was discovered. •Judge Gamble said he was satis-fle-d that this crime had been committed by a sick man, who had 'obtained no advantage for himself. Glen had repaid the whole amount to the trustees. The circumstances appeared to be without . rational explanation other than that Glen was pursuing a course that was' irrational owing to some nervous sickness or upset, ' accentuated by overindulgence in alcohol. It would be .cruel to impose a term of imprisonment in this case. Glenn was released on a bond of £25 to be of good behaviour for three years.