THEFT FROM FIRM

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1928, Page 4

THEFT FROM FIRM

PARTNER SENT TO GOAL. WELLINGTON. April 4. A peculiar ease of retained confidence on the part of some shareholders in the partner of a firm (an auctioneer). who stole 2990 of the money of the company, was revealed in the Supreme Court, when Robert Sproule Menzies. appeared for sentence, having pleaded guilty.

Mr O’Leary, counsel for prisoner, said that Alenzies, must know lie must serve a term of imprisonment. All counsel could do was to place the facts before the Court in palliation. His Honor: Did the people who employed hint here know he had served three years in gaol ! Mr Maeasse.v; They did not.

Mr O’Leary said that the previous offences were committed in Dunedin in 19Jo, and Menzies was liberated in 1917, when lie came to tlte North Island .and rejoined his family, but he found it difficult to earn a livelihood. He struggled on for years, hut his wife was forced to keep hoarders for part of the time. In 1926 lie joined the firm of Scott and Menzies. He had no capital and Iwrrowed £3OO for the purpose, placing it. with the firm as part of the capital required. His household effects were sold and he started off in debt, besides the money he had borrowed. The money he had obtained from the firm by theft had gone to repay tlte money lie had borrowed. so that of the £'99o of which lie had defrauded the company, £450 went hack as the capital lie had to provide. He had owned a car which he had used on the company’s business, hut had paid its running expenses himself. There was a sum of £2OO he could have charged tin to tlte company, hut had not done so. knowing lie had taken the company’s money, which he thought should l>o taken into consideration.

Suspicion was directed to Menzles two months ago. and he at once not only admitted the offence, hut actively assisted in the firm's investigations. Some of the shareholders were willing that he should remain and continue as auctioneer, and, indeed, he had carried out his duties in that position, hut others wished to prosecute. He was fifty and married, with a son of twenty. Counsel asked for leniency. Mr Macassey said that Menzies had been employed by P. C. Neill and Co., of Dunedin, wine and spirit merchants. and while there stole a considerable sum of money.

‘Tt is an extraordinary thing,” said his Honor, “after having the experience you had before of the results of crime of this nature, you started with a firm at £4OO a year anil immediately began to steal from them, and so continued till you had stolen £9OO. T should not be doing my duty unless 1 imposed a heavy sentence upon you. You will he sentenced to four years’ imprisonment with hard labour.