SOLICITOR STRUCK OFF THE ROLLS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 237, 1 July 1919, Page 5

SOLICITOR STRUCK OFF THE ROLLS

I I In the Supreme Court yesterday Mr.> | 11. F. von Ilaast, on nehaif of the New [ Zealand Law Society, moved for a rule absolute under lhe Law Practitioners Act, 11108, to strike off tho 'roll Francis Leslie Norton Thompson. On tlie bench were the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), Mr. .Tusticc. Cooper, Mr. Justice Sim, and Mr. Justice Herdnian. Thompson" .wsis practising as a solicitor at Hastings, and was tried in the ' Supreme Court, Napier, towards the end 'of last year on charges of having received trust money and fraudulently converting same to his own use. The jury failed to agree, and ho was tried again in January last on two charges—one of having frauduleni'.y converted the sum of JES3O. the property of Gotfried Albert Petrowski, and also of having fraudulently converted ,£l7B 17s. 4d., the property of the same' person. Ho was acquitted on tho first count, and found guilty on tho second count, with a strong recommendation to mercy, and was sentenced to - four months' imprisonment with llard labour. Jlr. von Haast said that he had received a letter from Thompson, who, in effect, said he hod neither time nor money to prepare any kind of defence. Tho grounds of his contention were that certain witnesses were not called at his trial, and he also made reference to the judge's summing lip. He stated, further. that ho could not, obtain counsel. If the man had something to piit beforo tho Court counsel could always bo found. The Chief Justice: He could have fjled n,i affidavit. ■ Mr. von Ilaast: Thompson has had six months in which to submit a defence. The Chief Justicc: He was convicted bv a jury of his countrymcn of fr.'.ud, and is not fit io perform his duty as a solicitor, and we would not bo doing our dutv to allow, him to remain on the roll. The rulo absolute was granted. . '