CULTURED

NZ Truth, Issue 1211, 14 February 1929, Page 4

CULTURED

But He Did Not Pay Hisßills IN TROUBLE (From "N.Z. . Truth's" Christchurch Rep.) Floundering about m a troublesome backwash of unpaid .bills, John Herbert Tonkin,; a cultured . and well-dressed young Englishman, who is anticipating a legacy, incurred the displeasure of the Nelson police. . LIB earned the distasteful reputation of living on his wits, and while . li«> denied this allegation when he pleaded guilty to three charges of failing to account for money- he. had collected on behalf of firms he was representing, he admitted having got, deeply into debt m the city.. .. ; "•"■".. , / Tonkin, at different periods of his residence m Nelson, reprpsented tho firms of Goldinghnjn and Beckett and A. G. Betts and Son. In August last-. year he collected two sums, of £2/4/- and 16/- -.from Mnrjravet Woodhouse for Goldingham and Beckett, and "m October he collected from Murray Marks an amount of £2/10/- for Betts and Son. .. ' In each instance h*> frqudulently ~ omitted to account for the money. Tonkin has, had an eventful twentyeight years of life. lie was educated at Epsom College, England, and, joining the Royal Navy at the age of fourteen years, he trained on the battleship . Worcester. : He served 'during- : the : war as an ofßcer of an Indian t unit, and was honorably discharged with a physical disability winch he will carry for the rest of his life. i He had at present a nnsition' m Ohi'istchurch wit!\ a firm which knew of his trouble m Nelson, and was earning from £8 tn £9 a 'week. The magistrate: A man with your oducation must realise what a fool you have been. . ' - Tonkin: Absolutely . sir. '. • • Th'e magistrate: .You are convicted and admitted to probation for a year,^ the money to be refunded m three months. .