RAYNER'S LITTLE RAMP.

NZ Truth, Issue 58, 28 July 1906, Page 5

RAYNER'S LITTLE RAMP.

Henry Deacon Diddles the Druids

And Getstfive-Years for- His Frivolity, n

. : A1 five years' "stretch" was the lit-. , !tle birthday present awarded Henry ' -Deacon Rayner, of Christchurch, for his hanky panky business with the funds of the Druids' lodge. He was charged with getting away with £495, but the defalcations went nearer £600. Rayner is the dapper little bloke whom everybody trusted for so many long years — a cove that would, not do any sort of harm to anybody, but those are generally the Johnnies that are found missing. He went to 'Murka, and had he stayed there he'd have been all" right, but he must make tracks for Sydney, and retribution was swift and pretty certain. On being copped he said -he would plead guilty, and wanted to get the business, over as quickly as possible. He blamed his downfall to a fire he had a couple of years ago when he got burned oiit. Some people make money out of fires, but Rayner was evidently an exception. However, his business decreased considerably, and after that he took the monies of the diddled' Druids to keep himself ''a-bove water. His wife and two ctiildre'n are in Sydney among strangers, andicounsel, in pleading for a light sentence, made the old, old statement that Rayher's punishment would fall on them. The judge said it was a very case ; it was absolutely impossi-* •ble for him to consider even a suggestion of probation. He had system-, atically robbed a society of which he • was secretary, during the last twelve months. He had abused his toust and committed large defalcations. It was bad enough for; a man to rob his employer, but it was ten times worse to rob a society of monies which ac,crued for the benefit of distressed members. There was far too much embezzlement going on, and an exemplary sentence which he would pass in this case might have a deterring ' effect on others. He then gave Ray- '. ner a sentence of five years, and the nicely-dressed little thief seemed rather surprised as he left the dock for the prisoner's retiring room.