SERIOUS CASE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20058, 3 October 1939, Page 3

SERIOUS CASE

STOLE POSTAL PACKETYOUNG MAN IN COURT “LIVED BEYOND MEANS” (Spocidljto tin) Herald.) WATROA, this day. A statement to the effect that accused had been living a little bit above his means was made by .Sergeant D. Clark in the Wairoa Police Court yesterday, when David Aitken Alexander, aged 22. pleaded guilty to charges of stealing £G. the property of the Y.M.-C.A. at Kopuawhara between July 1 and September 17. and stealing a postal packet .containing £2 10s, the property of the PostmasterGeneral, at Kopuawhara on or about July 3. 1-Ie was placed on probation for two years.

Messrs. J. Corkili and O. A. Jonsom JjP.s, were on the Bench and the accused was represented by Mr. C. R. Sainsbury.

'Sergeant D. Clark stated that accused's parents were well known and highly respected. He was assisting in the Y.MjC.A. canteen at Kopuawhara, which was run by a Mr. Kennedy, aind he also assisted in the post office which was run in connection with the canteen.

Registered Letter

It was the custom, added the sergeant. ici places such as this that when a person wished to register a letter and the post office was closed, to placp the letter with the necessary stamps in the post box, collecting the receipt later. A man named Wills was sending £2 10s to a firm in Christchurch, and as the post office was closed he put the letter in the box. As he did not receive a receipt from the firm, he wrote to it and was advised that it had not received the money. The accused admitted taking the letter and later extracting the money.

Referring to \hc other charge, Sergeant Clark said there had been some shortages in the cash at the canteen, the total sum missing being about £27. The accused made a clean breast of the affair and admitted taking about £6.

Appeal by Defence (Mr. Sainsbury said the facts could not have been put more fairly than they, had been outlined by the sergeant. The case was a very painful one. It appeared to be another instance of the effect of modern civilisation and boys living beyond their means. «~-

The Y.MjC.A. people thought highly of the accused, added counsel, and felt that if he were given a chance he would make good. Mr. Sainsbury therefore asked that accused be placed on probation.

The Bench considered the case to be a very serious one, and the fact that he Was acting practically as a civil servant could not be overlooked. His youth, however, was in his favour. .He would be admitted to probation for two years and was ordered to make restitution of £8 10s.

Counsel made an application for suppression oi’ the accused s name, »:iot on account of the accused himself, but for the sake of his parents.

The application was refused