NO CRIMINAL INTENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 35, 11 February 1929, Page 9

NO CRIMINAL INTENT.

YOUNG CANVASSER'S OFFENCES. CONVERTS MONEY TO OWN USE. Reginald Matthew McEwen (25), a clerk, who recently gave himself up to the police, appeared at the Police Court this morning to be dealt with by Mr. W. R. McKcan, S.M., on charges of fraudulently omitting to account to the Colonial Mutual Life Insurance Co., Ltd., for sums of money totalling £8 l'J/. Chief Detective Hammond said McEwen had been employed as a canvasser by the insurance company, and had been quite a good servant until he went on a drinking bout last month. He converted sums of money collected to his own use, but. later wont to the detective office and gave himself up. Mr. Snedden, who appeared for accused, stated that McEwen had been living with his married sister at Hamilton. Early in January his father was stopping at the same house. His father became ill and had to enter a hospital. This worried McEwen, who went on a drinking bout. When he got over this he was advised by a friend to report himself to his office and to the police. This he did. "There was no clever deception about the matter, and accused has made restitution, while he has also taken out a prohibition order," said counsel. "His act was that of a fool and not a criminal." McEwen was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within six months.