Supreme Court.

Manawatu Herald, 24 September 1896, Page 3

Supreme Court.

WANGANUI. Tuesday, September 22. (Before His Honor Chief Justice Sir Jarne3 Prendergast.) beoika. i. cox. Tbj charges were that on the Ist day of April and thereafter, he was treasurer and clerk to the Manawatu County Council, and reoeived from; alters persons securities amounting to <888 9a Bd, and fraudulently con • verted the same to his own use and omitted to account for and pay the same into the Council funds. Aeoused pleaded guilty. H» was further charged with omitting to make an entry in the books of the Council and in the balaoee sheet a payment of 467 163 Id. Aocused also pleaded guilty to the •eoond charge. On a third against Cox, the Crown Prosecutor entered a noil* protequi, as the prisoner had pleaded guilty on the other two charges. Mr Treadwell appeared for the accused, and asked that he should either be admitted to probation, or that a lenient sentence should be imposed. The accused had endoaToured to make restitution, and had paid monies into thr account of the county since the case 3 had been brought against him. He had a wife and saven young children, and od their behalf Mr Tread welt asked" that the prisoner be leniently dealt with. His Honor said probation was quite out of the question in the case of the prisoner, who wa3 88 yaars of age. He commented adversely on the careless manner in which public bodies allowed their officers to o»sh cheque* instead of paying them into thf account of the Road Board of Council. By their lax and improper practice they encouraged people to commit offences, and they should be itt the dock with prisoner. Prisoner was sentenced to two fsars' hard labour on each oi the two charges, the sentences to be coi» torrent.