UNION FUNDS THEFT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 147, 17 March 1939, Page 10

UNION FUNDS THEFT

Two Years’ Probation

PRISONERS SENTENCED Appearing in the Supreme Court in Wellington yesterday on two charges of theft of money belonging to the New Zealand Workers’ Union, Leslie Murray, aged 39, labourer, was admitted to probation for two years and ordered to make restitution of £3B and pay the costs of the prosecution. Mr. Justice Blair, who was on the Bench, said he was following the probation officer’s recommendation. The offences were committed about nine years ago, and on Wednesday Mr. J. 11. Luxford, S.M., ruled that he bad no jurisdiction to deal with such old charges and committed Murray to the Supreme Court. From the dock Murray said his downfall was caused by a drinking bout, and that he had not. been in trouble before or since.

Mabel Amelia Newham, aged 35, domestic, who pleaded guilty in the Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to a charge of bigamy, was admitted to probation for six months. Mr. J. Meltzer appeared for prisoner. Concurrent sentences ranging from one year for theft to four years for false pretences were inflicted on John Donne Collins, aged 27, labourer, who appeared for sentence on seven charges of false pretences, four of forgery, four of uttering and one of theft. Thomas William Hill, aged 23, labourer. who had admitted seven charges of breaking, entering and theft, was sentenced to two years’ reformative detention on each, the terms to be concurrent. Replying to a request by prisoner for probation, his Honour pointed out that he had been convicted several times previously and had been in a borstal institution for a term.

For attempting false pretences Leslie Bramwell Clifford, aged 24, motor driver, was admitted to probation for three years. He was represented by Mr. C. J. O’Regan. Robert Burns Gallacher, aged 62, engineer, who had been committed for sentence from Napier, where he had pleaded guilty to four charges of indecent assault on females under the age of 16, was admitted to probation for four years and ordered to pay £2/13/costs. Mr. A. J. Mazengarb appeared for Gallacher.