CANT SENTENCED

Evening Star, Issue 19788, 11 February 1928, Page 11

CANT SENTENCED

THREE MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT DOMINION MONEYS EMBEZZLED ACCUSED “ STABBED IN THE BACK " Prew Association—By Telegraph -Copyright. LONDON, February 10. (Received February 11, at 10 a.m.) Three months’ imprisonment was imposed upon Captain Cant, who pleaded guilty to embezzling £l5O belonging to the New Zealand Government.

The prosecutor said that the Government sent Cant to navigate a motor vessel from Ireland to New Zealand, placing certain moneys at his disposal. While Cant was in Ireland Sir James Parr, High Commissioner for New Zealand, was informed that there were certain charges awaiting him in New Zealand. Sir James telegraphed to Cant releasing him from his duties. Cant shortly disappeared, taking £l5O of New Zealand’s money. He surrendered to the police on February 4. Cant, in the dock, said: “I did not know what I was doing. Some power swept over me. These charges in New Zealand are due to the unscrupulous junior officers, who have stabbed me in the back, 11,000 miles from home.” The magistrate said that it was possible that tho charges were trivial. Ouo allegation of ‘‘personal misconduct” might merely have been drunkenness. fCaptain Arthur Robert James Cant was appointed to bring over tiro new Government steamer Maui Pomaro, which was launched on September 29 of last year, and is now trading between New Zealand and (lie Cook islands.]