GAVE HIMSELF UP

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 585, 11 February 1929, Page 13

GAVE HIMSELF UP

CANVASSER ADMITS THEFT

RESULT OF DRINKING BOUT

Lenient treatment was extended this mornirg at the Police Court to Reginald Matthew McEwen. who gave himself up to the police and admitted stealing his employer’s money.

McEwen, a clerk aged 25, pleaded guilty on two charges of failing to account for money received at Hamilton on account of the life insurance office by which he was employed. Chief-Detective Hammond considered a drinking bout to be responsible for McEwen’s actions. He had been quite a good servant of the company at Hamilton until January, when he had converted the money to his own use. “He gave himself up to the police and explained the position,” said the chief detective. “This is his first appearance in the Court, but 1 understand that he is addicted to drink.” Mr. A. C. Snedden explained that McEwen had started to drink after family trouble. There had been no clever deception in the thefts, and any officer of the company could detect them without any difficulty. Since he had been on remand McEwen had made restitution and taken out a prohibition order. "It Mas the act of a fool confused with drink, and not a criminal,” concluded Mr. Snedden. “He has already done what 1 would have directed him to,” commented Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., as he convicted McEwen and ordered him to come up for sentence within 12 months. An appeal for suppression of the name was not granted.