CHARGE OF THEFT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1921, Page 7

CHARGE OF THEFT.

AN EMPLOYEE’S LAPSE REMANDED TO MONDAY. At yesterday’s sitting of the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court, George Inman Blacker was charged on four counts of fraudulently failing to account for sums of money received on behalf of his employer (Mr. L. T. Cresswell). The specific charges were: On January 26, 1921, appropriating £7 12s received from Edwin Whittle (Red House Hotel), on January Id, 1921, £3 9 s 4d from Mary Ann Hammond (Breakwater Hotel), on October 18, 1920, and October IJ, 1926, £*4i 16s 9d and £lO 15s 7d respectively from Mary Ann Hammond, a total of £26 13s Bd. Besides this accused had, it was alleged, appropriated various smaller amounts, making a total aggregate of £'3s 12s 3d. Detective-Sergeant Cooney stated that accused’s duties were to solicit orders and collect money on behalf of his employer. A record book was kept for this purpose, but on the dates named no entries had been made in this book. Mr. A. A. Bennett, on behalf of accused, said that probably the case was not one for summary jurisdiction, but it would save the time of both the flower and tha upper Courts if the dealt with the case and himself imposed sentence. A guarantee would be made for full restitution of the money appropriated within a week. H-e understood that most of the money had been sepnt in drink. On behalf of accused he pleaded guilty and, in doing so, suggested that the benefit of the new Probation Act be extended to the accused.

The Magistrate said that the charge neally merited gaol, but in view of the fact that accused was a married man with one child, and in the hope that he had been taught a lesson, he did not like to imprison him. Accused would be convicted and remanded for sentence till Monday next. Meantime a report would be obtained from the probation officer, and, if this were satisfactory, accused would probably be admitted to probation for a period. Accused was released on his own bail.