PRESSED

NZ Truth, Issue 1215, 14 March 1929, Page 7

PRESSED

Pleaded He Was Blackmailed

GIRL BLAMED

(Prom "N.Z. Truth's" Rotorua Rep.) That he had been blackmailed by a girl 'with whom for some, time he , had been on intimate terms, was the plea of a frail-looking young man named Colin Spalding Walker, when, through Mr. Jack Strang at the Hamilton Supreme Court, the other day, he sought the clemency ' ' of the judge on a charge of failing to account for moneys . belonging . to. the Rotorua Borough Council. WALKER is now. 33 years of age, and . he came out. to., this. country from Scotland— where, he is said to be well connected— eighteen years ago. .. ■ His parents are dead and he has been living at Rotorua with an aunt, who was said to have exercised a very strict' discipline over him. For some years prior to 'going 1 to the thermal regions, Walker was engaged by John P'iithie. and Co., of Wellington, and later by' t'lie Christchurch City Council; .- ■:' .< .• - - - ' ; '' ■.;..■ ■■• ■ Three years ago he took on the job of 'assistant town clerk to the Rotorua Borough Council. . For the major portion of the time he apparently did. his work 'well, but the last Government' audit disclosed that the -.council's . books were not quite Square. Walker was asked if he could account for certain discrepancies amounting to about £7S. He then made a full and frank confession that he had converted the money to his own use.. '■:•■.."' It was hot, however, until about an hour before he came up for sentence fit Hamilton, that he brought forward the story of the lady m the case. His solicitor argued with him that he could not very well ask the judge to grant him probation unless he could give a feasible explanation of what had" become of the money. ■;''.■;■ It was onty then that the name of.a Certain woman was mentioned, whom Walker said had forced ''him tp provide her; with money, under :. threat'.. ' .■: .. Mr. Strang pleaded earnestly for \the young man.-pointinjEf . out tbht he. still suffered from an internal injury which he received ,at the ;'^ar and that hehad to be "very carefully . dieted. This might be difficult it- he Were sent to gaol. ' ■.■.'■; '■ ' . :" : ; ; ; ■'. ■. ' ./.V.: _.-.- .;■'■ ■'.'■■Mr.'-.cJustice Blair said it was not the practice of judges, to grant probation in.cases• of breach, of , trupt.of this Icind, but it was.-apparent| that prisoner m; the present case had acted under some kind of duress. • ''; In the • special - circumstances, and considering the excellent character which Walker was given, '. he would divert from the. general rule and "place. Walter QJr 'probation for three;. years, providing he paid the costs .' of the prosecution.- -._. ■/*.■;■. ■ i/ / / V ; ' ':''l *.'■■ ' • y.~'":,'