THEFT OF MONEY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 51, 23 November 1937, Page 7

THEFT OF MONEY

-PresB Association.)

Ex-Postmastsr Sent to Gaol

(By Telegraph-

auckland, Last Night. Tkefts by officers of the Postal Department, who are uecessarily entrusted by the public with the handling of large sums of money, are always serious offeneds, said Mr Justice Pair, in the Supreme Court, when senteiieing Leouard Arthur Hetlleriiigton, aged 45, on two charges of theft as a servanfc at Waihopo, a Far North settlement on tho gumficlds nofth of Houhora, and had admilted the theft of £218 frori the Government between January, 1934, and last Oetober. Mr Holmden, who appeared for Het.heringtpn, said that during the Great War he had been badly shellshocked at Mcssines and aftervvard severely wounded in the arm. People in the district were entirely sympathetic. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr V. r. Mereditli, said these frauds had been going on for a very considerable period, alid Hetherington's method of manipulation of the accounts escapod andit for a number of years. His Honour said thgt the aco sed must be sentenced to a term of imprisonment. His age and experience made it quito certain that he must have realised the gravity of the offenees he was committing. Yet he deliberately continued them for over a period of about four years, while he was in receipt of a salary and a pension which were suffieient for his needs. Making allowaneo for the serious injuries Hetherington received in the war, his Honour sentenced him to 18 montks' imprisonment.