THEFT OF PUBLIC MONEY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2186, 7 October 1920, Page 3

THEFT OF PUBLIC MONEY.

J’AV n.KUK IX TItOCm.F. Jam- Ak-v; l ..<irr"wiil. 'vlK' i^ 1^1 u. 1,0 MOdliug £156 from '>m. )" j I )el ■ titiei l l. where lie- whs emplo.. • 1 wv dork, dam.* before hi- J i" (•lii, f Justice {Sir RoOfi-r Mod) . AUI InurUm on Monday for -no n-. . H-rep-waited liy Mr A. H. Su;vv. nab . ( oimr-ol said that the prisoner had unbr/zi.'d the .sum of £156 and convened rim Dioncv to Ids- own ii.se. He ">{• ', lia T' ,l flea it iiru.'i of his omit and had y-i-.eii ovn v posdble assistance to his supenoi otlic.Ty'aiui trio police hi the inaUcr. .hiring the time Will had occupied the position ~s padork ai Palmerston North the approximate aggregate sum that had pnsswi through Inn hands amounted to £15.000. ;m d it was didii ult to a. ei.-rtaiii .why he had given way io temptation, ills unnv ini.\ v. not .sufficient «• i-'ovnlc for Ins living awav from camps, and that fact tuis jnobablv the cause of his lapse into crime. He ii;.krd the court to treat the oltonccs as 01 liis Hononf said .ho had not. lhe_ power in do as counsel suggested. as the t ourl ot Appeal',had ruled otherwise. Mr Sieve.- right added dial prisoner committed the ohenee over two years ago, since when he had served a year at the front as a pay clerk and line! been cW Hrirecd from the army for twelve .months. AYhoii on active service Will’s accounts were found to lie in order, and since Ins return to New Zealand he had borne an unblemished character. His mother, who was a widow, was over 70 years ot age, and prisoner was practically her sole support, lie would suggest that Will he given an opportunity of proving himself and rerlecmin"- Ids name, and asked that, sent, nee bo deferred with that object m view. His Honour said ne had no power le cam- out counsel's suggestion, hut- linntended to impose a. light sentence. Hie prisoner had lost Ins position and name, and tho Court had taken that into consideration. Ho- would be sentenced to si\ months’ imprisonment.