A STRANGE CONFESSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2351, 5 November 1921, Page 3

A STRANGE CONFESSION.

DISHONESTY ADMITTED

LIFE SENTENCE WANTED

“DISGRACE TO COMMUNITY.”

“Since I heard a sermon of the Bishop of Christchurch on Sunday, October 2nd, on the dreadfulness of sin, 1 have been iniesrable, and have had no peace of mind ever since. I shall go mad if I don’t do something. I ‘cannot continue in this disturbed state, so I must give myself up to justice.”

In these terms, Frederick J. Bennett concluded a confession of theft for which lie was committed to the Supreme Court tor sentence in Christchurch.

The confession ran as follows: “The enormity of my sin. the burdened conscience, compel me to surrender myself into your band. For some time past I have been living a double, deceitful life. I cannot endure the agony of this guilty conscience any longer. Friends have plaited every confidence in me. T have abused that sacred trust and misappropriated money to my own use.”

The confession goes on in say that lie received £59 from one man, giving him a guarantee to pay him £IOO for an investment, covering a period of about two months. “Ibis is only one of several whom I have deceived by my lie telling and dishonest actions,” he continues, “but above all, I have deceived one of the best, purest, and noblest of girls, who trusted and loved me, leading her to believe I had money of my own when I had none, promising marriage and a. trip to England, which in my heart I knew to be an absolute impossibility • This trouble and deception on my pari I know will crush the very life out of this poor girl, and I appeal to friends and a sympathetic, public to fed Cor this poor girl and help her in this great trouble. T am guilty of all the badness possible —a rogue in every sense of the word, and not lit to lie at liberty to trade on the confidence of a. trusting public. I am really not responsible for my actions, a criminal at heart, and a disgrace to the community, and I trust when sentence is meted out to me it will be one of life, so that I may never have an opportunity again <>i defrauding people. 1 ask for m> leniency or consideration whatsoever save that loving and considerate feeling be extended to Ibis girl, also her dear father and mother.”