THE LATE GOLD EMBEZZLEMENT AT THE CASTLEMAINE SUB-TREASURY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 204, 4 August 1862, Page 5

THE LATE GOLD EMBEZZLEMENT AT THE CASTLEMAINE SUB-TREASURY.

On Friday last Thomas Beagley Naylor, the late receiver and paymaster at Castlemaine, who the day previously hail pleaded guilty to the charge of embezzling god from the sub-treasury at that place, was brought up fur sentence. Mr. Leech said the prisoner, with whom he was acquainted before this unfortunate occurrence took place, had requested bim to address a communication to tiis Honor. It was ia the prisoner's own language, but he suffered under a ce-taiu amount of mental excrement and physical dehi.ity, and be did not f-t! equal to rending ft himself. Although the proper course would be to hand in the document fo his Honor, the prisoner was very desirous that it should be read aloud, with some little observations which might be made to palliate the offence, in presence of the inhabitants oi the town, by whom he was held in love and respect tor a period of years. The following paper was then read by Mr. Leech :—

" May it please your Honor—With feelings of -th« deepest shame, I acknowledge my guilt—l alone am guilty. I shall not presume to weary your Honor by

any attempt to explain the circumstances surrounding toe commission of mv crime, nor offer any vague excuses for m> sin. Tliis much, however, I would lies to be allowed to say—For a long time past I have suffered fearfully from painful depression of mind and body, originating in pecuniary embarrassment, long continued ilmess, and eventually death in my iunily I have even now, after many weeks of reflection and felt-examination, but a dim recollection of the circumstances connected wkh the actual commission of the crime. Of this I feel certain—that in my miserable condition I suffered mvs"lf to bs deluded by the va.^ue thought that at some future period, before the detection of the guilty act, I might be enabled to replace the gold I abstracted from the treasure entrusted to me, aad so escape from outward shame and punislffnent. It was this hope which caused me to preserve the label ofthe abstracted parcel. Wisely and mercifully k was #rdained for me that my guilt should be detected, and a btop be put to the life I was pursuing. I feel most sadly that I deserve no pity, yet, for the sake of others, I beg for mercy. For years of time sjient in Castleiuaine, I bore au uublembhed reputation. Those who knew me then will testify that I was everready to promote the welfare of the town and my fellow citizens; and it is well known to many that in every effort for go<xl I was engaged in 1 w-as always supported and counselled by my wife. Upon her, —noble, generous, and tender-liearted, —and upon my youu^ and helpless family, my guilt has brought ruin and indescribable affliction. For their sakes I plead for a merciful sentence—one that will enable me yet to repair, as iiiras in me may be, the awful wrong I have done to them, and which may give vie an opportunity to show my country, whose laws I have broken, that lam not lost. I now stand before your Honor ready to atone for the violation of the law by a contrite submission to the sentence your Honor, ia the exercise of your just judgment, my pass upon me. —T. Beaglky JVayxok.''

His Honor, the Chief Justice, after commenting at some length ujmjk tlie facts of the case, sentenced tbe prisoner to four years 1 hard labor ou the roads of the colony.— Age.