THEFT OF MONIES

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1921, Page 1

THEFT OF MONIES

W. A. HOPKINS SENTENCED. [tlY Tlit.ECllAPir —PEI! PIIF.BS ASSOCIATION'] Cl lIUSTCH ClUliJ, Oct. HI "I would lie failing in my duty to the public if 1 did not impose a sentence which wt/uld mark the prisoner's conduct ns a serious ~Hence,” said Justice Adams at the .Supreme C ourt to-day in s.nlem.iug William Allan Hopkins, land agent, to four years imprisonment with hard labour, on lour charges, two of theft and two of failing to account. Air T. W. .Johnston, counsel for the defeiuo, said that when lln ],kins first took the money he bad really no inlent to deprive anyone. A; the time he liied as a .ba nki up: bis bealtl'i vta* such that lie bad Mir; cndercl to the aiiliioi il ies at Kuunyside .Mental lies, pilal. lie was a lukinlary patient at iM- institution for three months. Con scqiiently he went to Wellington, when be stayed with relatives. The prisonei was till vears of age and bail been aged in appearance by bis troubles in a ierent ease in tin, North Island. Prnhn t ion bad been extended to a civil servant. win, bad been guilty of s.vstetnnti, thefts from the Dove! nui,mt and eoitn--.1 a'k' d lor a -imilar ai l "I eleiueuex 1,1 Dfi- "I', i' true ;!iat the pri-

an „|d Ulan and in a bad -tale „f 1., allli. but I I,'gret lo say ilmt bii'ill'." 'V' lel 11. I" li.eie aliytbiug 10 ai ge in mil ic a lion -aid Mr I *mi-li,-ll v . (11 ‘' vll P,» I. Tile pri'Oll-

.bankrupt u.'tai would probably realise from li' lo 7' in Cl ai curding to the 'tatenien■ ol an ollieial assignee. The total ilelaleatimi' amounted to CJJ.IIOH. A large number of the people effected were in noor eirenmstanee' ami were old men or women. The dilia nlj;no(l 11v 11io won* m»1 nidi duo to liis optimism iml to lus Jiersistently dishonest temperament. Prisoner’s books weie kept in -'Orb a way as not to disclose the true posii jolt. A large number of persons lia< been ruined by Hopkins.

A| r .lobiiMon led out t li.it several persons enn.-vinod were bard beaded business men.

Air Do 1111,' 11 \ l .1,1 le.! lliai I lieie were ...\rral 'iieli iiistiaiivs. bill lik renuiik- . ,„l .1,1, ■I I- be I. I' 1 "' 1,1 lab aliens exlended fa. as was known over the past ten yea is.

His Huiuiin said it was a pitiful ease, but tlie circunistalues brought lorward |,v the defence did not in any wax mil j, j,;.,te the seriousness ol the crime. Appioxiina’.cb Dumi 1 : "l le.a :; ■ " 1,.. Ml pel soils who cold,l ill a llol'.l p C lo". Ills I lotiour added h • "a- not going to take into consideration th< question of prisoner's health ns that was a matter for the I’ri'niis Hoard. What lie bail to deal with was the q'.n slioii of a man in hnsine.-s. apparently nl good repntatioH. who, by this roputalh.li bad been aide to obtain money Ip, in persons unable t,, beat the losses.

Tin* prisoner was sentenced to bull vein's imprisonment with hard lahotit oh each eliavge. tlm sentences lo La