THEFT OF SILVER

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1933, Page 5

THEFT OF SILVER

CASE RE-OPENED

r MEN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. (Per Press Association Copyright .) WANGANUI, July 21. 1 Joseph Hyman and Hugh Glover fmo'jbr drivers) were charged this morning with the theft of £Bl3 in silver on June 4, the property of William T-oomey, of Auckland, Toomey’s evidence was similar to that given in ' the case against a taxi /tlmiver, John Ralph Penny. already ■sentenced. Evidence was given by John Ralph Penny, taxi-driver (who was before the 'Court at Wanganui on' June 20. in connection with this theft of silver case, and was on Thursday last sentenced to eighteen months’ (imprisonment). Penny said he had known Hyman for about two years, and . Glover for «about fiwo. t>r 'three. Witness told both he was going through to Wellington with Tbomey. It was understood what was in thi car. The accused said they would see him in Hamilton, which they did. He knew they had driven Hyman’s oar to Hamilton. Near Urenui, a Bluebird car passed him, and he noticed Hyman in it, Later, he passed this car on the road, and saw Glover. Witness got a duplicate key for the switch of his car handed to him by Glover- three or lour days previous to .the Ijourney. Witness had given Glover the original switch key. Glover had- his instructions from Hyman, what to do with it, to get a key cut. 'He knew the reason of the accused being On the road at the same time was to get the silver. On reaching Wanganui, witness left the original switch key in the ear, and the front door was left-open,- On U? way back to Auckland, with T°omey, witness ■ rang< up Hyman at* Dr Connelly’s address, and told ' him he -wanted’ to see him. Hyman replied not to go to that ■ .address', but to Mr i Singer’s ' office. When later . . .witness saw , Hyman, the " latter said that G ’.over bad -left the key in -the car. Hyman also - said 'the |missing ( 'Property , was ten miles this side of Wanganui, and he was getting Mr Singer -to fix up about it to return the silver to . the owner. ' ■'. '. : . Witness met Glover by appointment, .and Glover said : "Hyman might do a bunk wit-h the money. We will (got a private car and go through .ourselves.” -,G!#ver .'took ill and taken to the hospital. When seen there, Glover advised witness to, go through, even if lie took, his own car. Ft? gave witness instructions where to And the money hidden on the .road* - side. Witness came.. through flvith jv man named Tew, but won nnsmwegsf'U t|» finding 'the silver. 'Glover f»M witness he had hidden the silve’l Both of tli© accused pleaded nob guilty. They were committed for trW at the Supremo Court- at Wanganui. # Bail was allowed in the case of Hyman in one surety of £SOO, and two of £250, and in, the c?se of Glover in . one surety of £SOO, and one of £SOO. or two oi £250.

SOLICITOR’S THEFT OF £1315

SENTENCE. OF THREE YEARS’

CHRISTCHURCH, July 21. On one charge, of theft and two of forgery, 'Huddari Richards Sampson, solicitor, aged 30, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, with hard labour, by 'Mr Justice Blair at the Supreme Court to-day. •Mr W. R.. Lascelles, for the prisoner, said that Sampson had been a popular member of liis profes s i°n. His dedications had come as a complete surprise to his fellow practitioners. For » the accused, he wished that the other charges were, in part, consequential on the first one. It might be that his apprenticeship in a wine and spirit business was not conducive to a success fail legal career. The accused, while still young, had developed a liking for liquor. He had qualified at twenty-one, and commenced to practice as a principal when twenty-three, which was rather young. He had scarcely started when he became over popular, a good fellow, and had attempted to keep pace with those whose means were greater than h : s own.

His Honour said that all cases of tl e type were very painful to deal with. The records showed that for six years the prisoner had been engaged in systematic forging, and his thefts hr 1 totalled £1345. He had been in a. portion of trust, and he had been ndmi - ted to an honourable profession, whit l guaranteed the honesty, of its mem hers. The prisoner would be sentence three gears’ imprisonment, ( wit! hard labour.

( T n subsequent proceedings, Hi 4 Honour made a rule nisf direct in u Sampson to show cause why he should not be struck off the roll of barristers and solicitors.