EMBEZZLEMENT,

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1804, 10 July 1906, Page 4

EMBEZZLEMENT,

A YOUNG MAN'S DOWNFALL.

Ia sentencing Honry Robort Oawin, of tbu rublioTruutoo’a 01]Ioo,New Plymouth, who aduiitti d ombozz’ing £l5O roooivcd i,a mils undor tho Itoservcs Act, Mr Jusiioo Ooopor said it was a painful thirig for uny judgo to have to doal with a onao lilso this Piisotior was only 1313 yearn of ago, and had 22 ycarß' Govornuiont service. His Honor had no doubt whatovor that prisoner for tho groalor part of that term carried out his duties satisfactorily, and committed no breaoh of trust, nor need his Honor doubt tho explanation given by Mr Wilford as to tho way in which his oliont arrivod ot his prosont position. But wboro thoro bad boon a Berios of embezzlements extending over a considerable peried of time, committed, as in this case, by a person in a position of trust, tho provisions of tho First Off-ndoiß’Probu-lion Aot could not eafily fco applied, though his Honor had no rroeon lo doubt that Oswin's first lap o from tho path of honesty was oausod by stress of c'roumstances. Unfortunately, wbon ho first found bimsolf in financial trouble, ho rc M sortod to money londors ins oad of faoing the trouble. No doubt tho big intercßt obarged expedited bis financial downfall, and fina'ly ho did wbat, alas, too many men had done, and tbo result was quite as one might havo anticipated. His position bfcnino worso, and bis moral fibre became weakened. His Honor would have to pass si ntonoo cf imprisonment, but would temper jnitue with mcroy. He would take into consideration the faot that priflocoi’a oharaetoe up to two joars ago was good, also tbat ho hod forfeited his position in tho Government Borvioe, and an o'lowbdoo of £4OO for whioh he bad qualified. On tbo o her hand, however, he h d taken a )arg r sum from tho Governm nt coffers. Also, Hia Honor wou.d take into o jufideration that Oswip was a young married mao, and though it was no log’oal ground for remiitmg any period of impiis onment, one oould not help considering tbat the direot result of Oswin’s crime wou d be a very severe punishment to him in itself, and thot he would suffer greatly, for no doubt he bad the ordinary feeliDgs of a man for his family as well as for himself. Although bo bad admitted taking £450, His Honor would not pass a heavier sentence than 12 months. One must reoognise that an offenco was not to be measurod by the amount of the do* filoation alone, but by tho whole surrounding ciroumßtanoea. A sentenoe of 12 months imprisonment would be really oollatora' punishment. His Honor hoped when Oswin came out of gaol he would ordoavor to rehabilitate himself, though no dcubt it would bo difliouit for him to regain a position of trust. It was lo be hoped that his friends would do all they could for him. His later friends, tbat was not thoso who loaned him money at 60 per oent., would endeavor to aaeiet him when ho oame out of gaol. Evory right" minted citizens should ondoavor to give a ohanoe to a man so situated. A sentence o’ 12 months’ imprieonment was then passed.