HIS OWN WEBB

NZ Truth, Issue 1178, 28 June 1928, Page 5

HIS OWN WEBB

Gramophone Agent In Tuneless Role , (From "N.Z. Truth's" Gisborne Rep.) When a young man m the early twenties, Herbert Hall Webb, introduced himself to Gisborne a year or two ago with the musical accompaniment of a gramophone agency, few people associated the name with that of a young student of Otago University whose career had been blasted through a .discovery that he had been guilty of forging examination papers. DROBABLiY that historic incident *■ might never have been recalled' in Gisborne if Webb had been content to profit from his early lapse and live a life of rectitude. It Is true that the manner m which he conduced his business, drove around m a motor-car arid lived generally, brought him within the focus of the public eye, but even then, few people— except, perhaps, one or two young ladles— paid unusual attention to him. When, he came "before the court, Webb admitted having failed to account to his principals. La, Gloria Gramophone Co., for £142/11/6. The police were kind to the. young man and gave him quite a good testimonial, while Magistrate Levvey agreed that the forging of the University papers four years ago should not be held against him. . Everything looked rosy for Webb, even when the magistrate said he wanted time to consider the case and to secure a report from the probation officer. It came as A surprise, therefore, when his worship intimated the following morning: that the probation officer (had submitted a very bad report and that probation was out of the . ' Herbert Hall Webb was ordered to be detained for reformative detention for a period not exceeding 18 months.