END OF THE SHAW CASE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1856, 16 September 1913, Page 7

END OF THE SHAW CASE.

SOLICITOR GAOLED,

CUILTY ON ELEVEN CHARGES. (By Telegraph.—Prew Aiooclatlon.) Tlmaru, September 15. Walter Shaw, solicitor, pleaded guilty to ten charges of abuse of trust moneys totalling £0700, and ono cliarge of false pretences. Ho was sentenced to threo years' imprisonment. It wap stated that Shaw's total liabilities wero about £50,000. His assets had not been fully ascertained, but would probably equal between 2s. Gd. and ss. in tho £. His Counsol's Recital. Mr. Solomon, K. 0., Dunedin, who appeared for accused, stated that ho was bound to admit tho charges, and that bis client had placed under suspicion a profession which, could not ! be too .jealously guarded. Shaw was 36 years of age. He had been in Tirnaru from boyhood, had had ii most _ promising career, and had been held in high esteem. I'eoplo had readily placed money in his caro on deposit, and- he became connected with one Trcvurza, a land speculator, and Shaw lent him deposited money to finance speculations. Getting his funds easy Trevurza speculated largoly, and carried Shaw olf his feet. He" had to pay interest to his clients while getting nothing from Trovurzu. Trovurza bought properties which brought in nothing, and wore unrealizable. Pressed by his clients for their money, Shaw sold tho properties at much less than ho gave for thom, and, in twelve or eighteen months, ho was in difficulties, but still lioped to rccovor by good realisations wliich did not eventuate, and then ho began using the trust moneys to tide over immediate difficulties. His affairs became inextricably confused, and his mind also; so that ho could not do what he should havo done —namoly, called his creditors together. Literally he "robbed Peter to pay' Paul," but did not always pay Paul. It was in his. favour that he stayed to . face his disgraco; and take the punishment. Apart from lis speculations, lie had lived a clean life, lor tho sake of Shaw's girl wito and infant child. Mr. Solomon asked for the fullest possiblo measure of leniency.

"Ruin to His Clients." In reply to. his Honour Mr. White (Crown Prosecutor) said that Shaw s crimo would mean absoluto ruin to some of his clients. There wore dozens ot other cases besides the., referred to in tho charges. Tho embezzlements took place very shortly after his connection with Trevurza. lho caso of falso pretences was a sale of proporty that did not belong to him.

"A Very Painful Case."

His Honour said it' was a very painful caao, but also a very serious offence. After making every allowance for accused's lack of business ability, and considering that bis career as a solicitor had been ruined, ho must sentence him to three years', imprisonment.