MARRYATT SENT TO GAOL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 208, 28 May 1921, Page 8

MARRYATT SENT TO GAOL

THREE YEARS’ REFORMATIVE DETENTION

FOR THE THEFT OF £3575

COURT’S COMMENTS ON THE CASE

Arthur Marryatt, guilty of the theft of -£3575 10s. 3d. from the Government Life Insurance Department, was yesterday sentenced by His Honour Mr. Justice I-losking. to reformative detention for a period of three years. Marryatt, who was very well known in Wellington in. connection with sport, particularly athletics, had been for the last twelve years cashier and counterclerk at the Wellington office of the Department. On May 4 last, after an examination of the. books by an auditor and office examiner, Marryatt confessed his crime to the manager of tho office. The amounts embezzled range from ss. io £BB5. By a "system” Marryatt had managed to keep his books “squared” until February last. In the Magistrate’s Court on May 18 Marryatt pleaded guilty. Ho admitted everything to the police, and gave them every assistance.

Yesterday, Mr. P. S. K. Alacassey represented the Crown', "and Mr. AV. Ferry tho prisoner. On behalf of ihe prisoner. Mr. Perry said it was tho most trying task he had ever undertaken to plead for a, man whom he had known for Jpuny years. For thirty years Marryatt had been in the. Government Life Insurance Department, and of the .£3575 stolen, the bulk had been taken within the last year. Tho prisoner had, as he had admitted, at. first taken small amounts, and then larger amounts, gambling heavily on the racecourse in order to attempt retrieving his position, “I am definitely instructed by Marryatt,” said Air. Perry, "not to make excuses; not to indulge in recriminations against the Department, not to plead that the thefts we.ro the result of sudden temptation. The facts aro plain. Tho prisoner committed the offemce, and the law demands that he shall be punished. . . . Certain circumstances. however, I submit may be taken into consideration for mitigation. Marryatt is a man who has had thirty years of industry and efficient service, whose reputation, up till now. was second io none. The news of his arrest was received with incredulity, and when the facts became known, with stupefaction.” He had sinned against the community, continued counsel, but ho deserved consideration for the time he had spent in the public service. He was the foun-tain-head of amateur athletics in the Dominion. chairman of tho Wellington Athletic Association, and of the Olympic Council, and at all times his fairness and straightforwardness had had a good effect on all young men with whom ho 'camo in contact. During the war he exemplified tho spirit of the people by the time ho spent in working for patriotic societies, and other movements connected with tho war period. During the last ten years there was no committee that had for its object the public welfare of which Arthur Marryatt was not n member. It was impossible to estimate fully his ungrudging, long, and useful service. ‘’‘“When Marryatt. first took the amounts,” pursued Mr. Ferry, "he lost his head and his sense of proportion. After forty-eight years of useful life, there was found a vulnerable point. . . . Since the arrest, Marryatt has given every assistance to the police and to the Department. He has not pleaded not guilty, which course would have put the country to considerable expense; he has not run away, and evaded his responsibilities. He has made a clean breast, and in that connection has played the man. . . . Since he pleaded guilty nine days ago ho has been daily 'waiting the call to attend the court;. . . . Ho has lost his superannuation; his life is wrecked. I leave him, Your Honour, to the mercy of the Court.”

Prior to passing sentence. His Honour said that Mr. Perry had made a powerful appeal to the feelings in his address. "It is very painful to have to deal with such cases,” said His Honour. “I will not sav anything to add to the remorse that the (prisoner is suffering. The skim stolen is a large one. . . . Tho punishment cannot be counted by a term of imprisonment. Prisoner hap nlready been punished by the public disgrace. The sentence I am going to impose can lie from time to lime reviewed by the Prisons' Board. I am satisfied that the sentence is the minimum possible under the circumstances: in fact, it might be said that I am lenient. I admit I have been influenced by matters placed before me which were not all in the depositions.” His Honour then passed sentence. After sentence had been passed, Afarryafl' turned, and nocTflcxl farewell to two or three of liis friends who were standing behind the dock. His composure was maintained throughout.