"LIVE DOWN PAST"

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 344, 4 October 1932, Page 5

"LIVE DOWN PAST"

(Press Assn.—

RACING CLUB SECRETARY SENTENCED FOR THEFT

-By Telegrnpli — Copyright)

Auckland, Monday. Reformative detention for a period not exceeding two years was the sentence imposed by Mr. Justice Smith in the Supreme Court to-day on Frederick Deuchar McVay, until recently secretary of the Takapuna Jockey Club. McVay had pleaded guilty to stealing various sums of money totalling £644, the property of the club. Counsel for McVay said accused had been secretary of the club since 1927, and for five years prior to that he was assistant secretary. "During the course of his work," said counsel, "McVay has handled many thousands of pounds for outside racing clubs, and there has never been any difficulty or suggestion of dishonesty in c'onnection with that money. The whole trouble is in connection with the Takapuna Jockey Club. Prisoner helped very consid-erably to clear the matter up, and he has made a clean breast of it. He feels his position very keenly. He has never been bef ore a court on any charge before." Counsel asked the Court to take into consideration the fact that accused was a man of 51 years of age. Any punishment the Court imposed would be felt very keenly. "He intends, when he comes out of prison, to live down the past and lead a fresh life," concluded counsel. "I aslc your Honour to make the sentence light." Passing sentence, his Honour said it was true that McVay had never been in trouble before, and the report in his case was that he was sober and industrious. "My duty, however is plainly to impose a sentence of imprisonment," said his Honour. "Under all the circumstances of the case I impos© sentence of reformative detention for a period not exceeding two years."