THEFT OF £l00

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1930, Page 8

THEFT OF £loo

OLD MAN PLEADS GUILTY

AUCKLAND April 10

To-day Thomas George De Re ussy, aged 79, a well known figure in city was arrested on eight charges of fraudulently omitting to account to T. G. le Renzy Trust Account, Turkish Baths Ltd., for eight sums each of Sl2 10b between June 12th and D.e•ember 3rd, 1929, thereby committing theft. De Renzy appeared at the Magistrate’s Court this afternoon, pleaded guilty and was remanded for sentence until to-morrow.

Accused, said Detective-Sergeant T. Kelly, was a company promoter who", with others, became interested in Turkish Bath Co., Ltd. He got a man to canvass for shares, which were to be £SO each, and £l2 Bis was to be pajd on application. De Renzy collected eight sums 1 of £l2 Ids each From different persons, and although die cheques were payable to De Renzy Turkish Baths, Ltd., they were not >aid into this account, but were ashed by . at business places n Auckland.

“Apart from these cases, your Worship,” said Mr Kelly, “there are oany other cases of this old man issu•lg valueless cheques in the city. So king as he goes -round with a cheque mole lie will sign cheques. If he can be prevailed upon not to issue more cheques things might be 'better for him. He is a decent, respectable old man who has seen better days. In "act, as' we were walking down to Court lie told m© that lie once lost £4-1,000 in a mining transaction. He has never been in trouble previously.” Counsel for accused said de Renzy was married with three children. There was no possibility of his makng immediate restitution. However, ie had hopes of doing so as lie was utering into a mining transaction liortly.

Mr W.' J. Campbell, probation ifficev, toldfr the Magistrate lie had known cle Renzy for 2o years. “He uis previously been in a big way, jut now he seems to be right up tgainst things.” He said lie did not think accused could make restitution. The Magistrate remanded accused until to-morrow for sentence.