PRISON SENTENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 51, 28 January 1938, Page 8

PRISON SENTENCE.

HARD LABOUR IMPOSED. THEFT OF SPORTS FUNDS. Sentences totalling two years’ imprisonment with hard labour were imposed on Thomas Leslie Alexander, alias Avison, a labourer, aged 28, of Pongaroa, when he appeared before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Cburt to-day on five charges alleging theft of money. The charges were: —(1) The theft, on April 27 last, at Pongaroa, of £4 10s, the property of the Puketoi Rugby Sub-union; (2) the theft, on May 1 last, of £4 10s, and between May 1 and July 31, of £43 15s 7d, the property of the sub-union; (3) the theft on July 31 last, of £2 10s, the property of the sub-union; (4) the theft, on April 30 last, of £49 9s the property of the sub-union; (5) the theft, at Pongaroa on July 31 last, of £lO 7s Id, the property of the Girls’ Const Hockey Club.

Accused pleaded not guilty to the last charge and guilty (electing to be dealt with summarily) to the fourth, while on the others he had already pleaded guilty and had been remanded for sentence.

In respect of the last charge. Mrs M. McLaren, who succeeded accused as secretary of the hockey club, gave evidence that the money was kept in hand for paying expenses, and Mrs M. Rahu stated that accused had not paid over the club funds, although he had been asked for them. Miss lv. Bowie gave evidence on similar lines. Accused cross-examined each witness, saying he had not been notified of any meeting, and had thus not been given an opportunity of paying the money back'. Detective-Sergeant A. B. Meikiejohn said accused had been given the opportunity of producing the money to him, and accused had refused to do so.

Accused addressed the Magistrate in regard to there not being a meeting to which he had been summoned. He gave evidence that the money was still in hand “in Pongaroa.” The Magistrate: Where? Accused: In Pongaroa. That is all I intend to say.

The Magistrate: Then you are convicted* of theft.

Mr Meiklejohn gave evidence that accused had quite frankly admitted the theft of £lO4 6s 9Jd from the Rugby Union. Witness understood that accused had been betting on racehorses. He had been before the Court a lot of times.

Accused: Have I the right of appeal on the hockey charge ? The Magistrate: It will not make any difference. On each of the twd major charges, involving £43 15s 7d and £49 9s 2Jd, accused was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labour, the terms to be cumulative. On the charge relating to £4 10s he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, on that relating to £2 10s to three months’, and on the £lO charge to six months’ imprisonment, these sentences to be concurrent with the others.