HIS VARSITY FEE.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1926, Page 3

HIS VARSITY FEE.

YOUTH STEALS BANK-BOOK. WELLINGTON. March 11. The transgression ol Frank ( rumwell Moure, a lad of eighteen. was described by lo> counsel (.Mr V\ . I'.. Leicester] a- easier to plead for than to explain, when Moore appeared liefore Mr ifustiee MacGregor lor sentence at the Supreme Court yesterday, he having pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery and uttering.

Cuunsei endeavoured In explain Mooru's lapse, however, and explained that the youth had come to V filington from Waipawa—where he had been teaching—with the hope ol taking a university course in agriculture. His father did not encourage him in bis objective, and fie was thrown upon Ills own resources. In order to surmount the financial difficulty "loch the payment of the ’\nrsity lees would entail, lie stole a bank book. which be saw protruding Irom a lellow boarder’s pocket at t hi* ) .M.( -A., and signed the name he saw on the outside—in the hope of obtaining Cl 10s. The character of the erring you) n had been exemplary, and his lather wished to have him hack on the farm, in Hawke’s Bay. Counsel asked for probation. . All' l'\ E. Ward, who appeared for the Crown, pointed out that the ease was a serious one. inasmuch as the accused had had plenty of money on him when arrested, and when questioned about the matter he hail licit. 11 is Honour said the ease was one for probation. Although he had. committed a serious oll'eme, the prisoner had apparent.lv succumbed to temptation. and had made it worse by lying. However, he was penitent. I l>on Hie payment of £1 Us costs of the prosecation, lie would bo admitted to piobation for two years, without any special provisions. In response to a request I'O suppression of the name the accused. His Honour said: " I’lus power t» suppress the name of a prisoner should he exercised only in exceptional cases. This is mil one ol these. IHe greatest factor in eases involving Imnestv is the fear of publicity, and il this is removed, there is no doubt that the offence will be more frequent. long as it remains it should provide a deterrent.”