Thefc By Council Clerk

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 February 1916, Page 2

Thefc By Council Clerk

«• KATM'A YiLK.S' iUrJj>A I'Olt OLJiMIfIJS'Oi. _ Cliristcliuicli, Jb'eb. 17. At the tiupromo Court George Sayoe Hickman, who pleaded guilty to .1 cnarge oi theft from hir> employer, the ivuwiiai County Council, appeared tor boutc.ice Mr \V. i l '. J olins+jn, oil prisoner's behalf, saicl lie was now 111 his sixtieth year and was a married man u'itli a family. In l'Jll ho entered into a land ballot, andi was successful, and in March, 1012, witli his own life's savings, and nearly £1000 from his wile,, and assisted' by same Block agents ,lie entered into possession of the land. Two months aiteitwards there was an unprecedented snowstorm and lie lost 1100 ewes and between 70 and 80 head of cattle. m tile season 1013 the stock agents who had financed him before partially restocked the land, but he went back considerably. In July, 1914, he applied to the Government for a loan of £2000, but war breaking out in August he did not get it. Towards the end of 1914 has position became desperate and lie was faced wiill the loss of his ]ife'£~savings, as well as the loss of his wife's money. With this tremendous temptation before him he used the funds of his employers to tide him over. He hoped tu escape detection till the end of the financial year, when he hoped to replace the money. He had borne an exemplary character hitherto. Counsel put in a petition signed by 74 Kowhai ratepayers commending prisoner to the clemency of the Court. The defalcations amounted to £1207 8s Bd. Judge Stringer said there was considerable difficulty in dealing with the case, and deferred sentence.