FATE OF PRODIGAL SON

NZ Truth, Issue 1108, 24 February 1927, Page 7

FATE OF PRODIGAL SON

'"', (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) FATHERS are apt to be a little narrow-minded on the subject of ; straying sons. So John Francis Holcombe found when he got m with the wrong crowd m San Francisco, took to M snow,r married thfc wrong girl and generally made a mess of things.

THE:;full story of how much his first . sniff, of "dope" involved was told m last .week's issue of "N.Z. Truth.'* His father told him he had better get out and try and^make good m a new country. That was how he happened to And his way from the Hollywood movie studios to New Zealand. When he came before Magistrate McKean again last 'Thursday to be sentenced on three charges of passing valueless cheques which enriched him to the , 'extent ' of £ 30, and a fourth count .]. of ; breaking tlie terms of his yearof probation, imposed at Wellington, Chief Detective Cummings told the Court that a cable had been sent to a friend of Holcombe's which might bring; forth the necessary dollars to makei'restitution: „Then the probation officer had something to say about a v he ; ; had received^ from Gisborne, , where Holcombe 'had been for some time. ...■'-, This was, m j effect, that he owed about £26 to people there who did not wish to have their names known. "I haven't anything further to say," Holcoriibe told the. Court before he was remanded to await the result of the cable to his friend, but later he confided to "Truth" something of his intentions if the cable brought no result. He had his doubts, he , said, as his -,

friend travelled about a good deal arid might not get the cable m time. "If there is no word by Monday," he said, "I'll ask for a stretch. I think I can stand it. "I don't suppose they'll give me more than two ov three months, -and then I propose going back to the States or to Honolulu." Monday came, and with it no reply to the cable, but when Holcombe stepped into the dock the chief detective produced- a letter which the young American had received from his father, who manages a big bank m San Francisco. Evidently Papa Holcombe had relented and yearned for the .return of his prodigal son, for he had written to ask him to come home, hinting that there was a job m the bank under the paternal eye awaiting him. ■ .For yet another week Holcbmbe's fate hangs m the balance. What will Papa Holcombe say when he hears by cable' (which the chief detective undertook to send) that the prodigal son has not been able to keep out of hot water "down under." . Will his father's forgiveness extend so far- as to take him back into the fold, notwithstanding his further slips frbm the straight, and difficult path? This remains to be seen, while Holcombe, still m custody m Mt. Eden, anxiously awaits -the cable that will decide his fate.