THEFT OF MONEY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5067, 20 December 1926, Page 2

THEFT OF MONEY.

EMPLOYER’S CASH STOLEN. OLD OFFENDER SENTENCED. At the Paeroa Police Court this morning, before Messrs W. FOrr®ot and B. Gwilliam, J’s.P., a middle-aged man named George Phillip Terry Wakefield, farm labourer, was charged that, having received the,sum of SA 5s 4d on terms requiring him to account for it to his employer. Mr L. E. Cassrels, he did fraudulently commit the money to his own use. Accused pleaded guilty. In evidence Constable McClinchy said that accused had been employed on a milk round by Mr Cassrels, and part of his duties ‘was to collect payment for milk sold. Calling at a local hotel, accused presented an account for payment at the office. Payment was made by cheque, which accused later cashed at the bar and purchased liquor. Subsequently he went to Waihi and borrowed a couple of cheque forms, which he fillsd in, and was caught in the act of cashing one of them by the police. Accused had no banking account. He was’ known to the police as an old. criminal, and witness read out a long list of previous convictions in different parts of New Zealand.

Addressing the accused, the Bench stated that his action had been hn extraordinarily foolish one, and he must have known it .would bring him trouble. His, lengthy list made the offence all the worse-.

Accused was convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment at Mt Eden. In passing sentence the Bench remarked that accused could consider that he had - been very leniently dealt with.