SAVINGS BANK THEFTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 117, 19 May 1924, Page 5

SAVINGS BANK THEFTS.

PUBLIC OFFICER'S LAPSES. ITERN SENTENCES NECESSARY. JUDGES ON BREACH OF TRUST. "Tide case has given mc considerable anxiety; it is a painful task to deal with a young man whose reputation until recently has been good, and who by his diligence in the public service had attained a fair position and reasonably expected early promotion. On the other hand, these "breaches of trust to which accused pleaded guilty have been very frequent recently, especially in the public service, and it seems to mc that I cannot deal with this case as applicable to the accused alone, but must look at it from the public point of view.". These remarks were made by MrJustice Stringer in the Supreme Court to-day when Harold George Allen, formerly postal official at Waiuku, came before him for sentence, after having pleaded guilty to charges of theft and the destruction of Savings Bank deposit slips. "I have conferred with my brother judge, Mr. Justice Herdman, who has had somewhat similar cases to deal with, and we came to the conclusion that in the interest of the public it was necessary that we should refuse probation in cases of this description. This young man pleaded guilty to two charges of theft of public money and also to acts of destroying public documents. 1 accept the finding of the jury that other charges were not proved against •him, but I cannot shut my eyes to the fact that if he had carried out hie duty it would have been impossible for these frauds to have taken place. His defence was that he was in the habit of leaving his cash-box open, and that someone else had the opportunity to take money from it and then remove vouchers corresponding to the amounts removed. Seeing that it was his duty to look after that box, it was a grave breach of duty to leave that box open. Necessarily this suspicion falls upon the whole of the staff. However, I must presume that the jury found there was negligence on his part in those other eases; but he has pleaded guilty to breaches of trust. Having regard to the frequency of these cases, I must pass a sentence which will be a deterrent to others." Accused wae then sentenced to two years' reformative detention, his Honor "stating that he would bring the case under the notice of the Prisons Board at as early a date as possible. ANOTHER CASE. HINTON PROTESTS INNOCENCE. HE ALSO GETS TWO YEARSAlexander Linton, for whom Mr. H. H. Ostler appeared, came forward for sentence after conviction for forgery and uttering. The Rev. Grant Cowen gave prisoner the character of "a very honourable. Etraight gentleman," said he had known him for years, and besought tfhe Court to grantprobation, which he was sure would prove justified. Linton still protested his innocence, but, as the jury had found him guilty, he would not I refer to that, but only ask for the ! mercy of the Court on the prisoner's behalf. Mr. Ostler also referred to prisoner's protestations of innocence, and to the fact that he was convicted solely upon the matter of a signature, which may possibly have been signed by somebody else. His Honor said prisoner had, in his opinion, heen rightfully convicted by the jury of having forged a withdrawal slip (someone else was obviously in the matter with him) to obtain from the Post Office people the sum of £190. "You were in a position of trust," said Mr. Justice Herdman, addressing prisoner, "with 156 other officials in the Post Office at Auckland, and during the performance of your duties you were in a position to forge vouchers and had every facility for the commission of this crime. It has always ;been recognised by judges that post office offences are very serious. This kind of offence is particularly serious. In the case of forgery it is impossible to grant probation. However, I do not propose to send you to prison with a sentence of hard labour. Having regard to the circumstances that you have never been convicted before and that you are only in middle life, you will be sentenced to be detained for reformative purposes for a period not exceeding two years, and if the Prisons Board, in its wisdom, should see fit, you will be permitted to go free sooner. But if you do not behave in prison you may be kept there for the full two years."