THREE YEARS IN PRISON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 153, 24 November 1914, Page 4

THREE YEARS IN PRISON.

COSTELLO SENTENCED. "VERY SERIOUS FRAUD ON THE ' PUBLIC." By Telegraph.—Per Press Association, Christchrureh, November 21. In the Supreme Court this morning, before His Honour Mr Justice Denniston, Andrew Costello came up for sentence, having pleaded guilty to the theft of £1922 19s 9d from the Land Revenue Department. The Crown Prosecutor said accused had pleaded guilty to six charges, involving £1922 19s 9d. His total defalcations, including the amount to which he had pleaded guilty, were £12,079 Bs. They extended over a period of eight years. Prisoner received the rents from 5000 Crown tenants, the i yearly revenue from whom amounted to £250,000. Mr. J. A. Cassidy, who appeared for prisoner, said his client had been in tin Government service in the Land Revenue Department for 17J years. He began at a salary of £6O a year. Considerable sums of money passed through his hands, and were in his possession at diflerent times. Cheques were received by him for as much as £150,000, and on ordinary occasions £60,000 would bj in his charge. Some eight or ten years ago he became involved in money-'.eid-ing transactions.

Bis Honour asked what was prisoner's salary at the' time he commenced his defalcations. Mr Cassidy said last year it was £250, and when he began embezzling it was £l2O. His Honour: I can't understand how it was that ho was not found out before he was. Replying to His Honour's questioning as to the motive for the embezzlement, Mr Casa'dy stated that it commenced ten or twelve years ago, and, in endeavouring to get out of the uiiro, he got further into it. His Honour: How did ho live? Mr Cassidy: I think it will be oo iteded that apart from th.s his life tins Been a respectable one, and it came as a very great surprise. He assisted in dealing up his embezzlements. His Honour. 411 he did was to say 'I will give you as little trouble as po -.sible.' How did he spend hits money ? Mr Cassidy: He spent it in betting; tryrt.g to recover.

His Honour: How did tliia man lurnage to go Hi rough £ 01 ? Mr G'assidy: Well, Your Honour, ho started ten years ago. His Honour: It is' useless to say lie got into this thing through thinking that if he went on there was hope of being able to pay up. Mr C'assidy: The air is full at times of stories of people who have made all sorts of fortunes out of this sort of thing. His Honour asked what was prisoner's age, and was informed that it was thirty-six. "Then," said His Honour, "he began when he was eight and twenty. I suppose he began by gambling. People don't begin to bet in order to make up their living expenses. I don't see how I can lock upon it as other than a very serious fraud on the public, committed over a period of eight years. I think it iB a case calling for a very substantial penalty." A sentence of three years' imprisonment was imposed.