PROBATION IGNORED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 49, 27 February 1929, Page 11

PROBATION IGNORED.

AGENT FLEADS GUILTY. FAILURE TO PAY AND REPORT ' I'M NOT GOING TO BE FOOLED." These men who are admitted to probation are provided with a license, while they are also told exactly what is required of them, and yet they go away and geem to ignore the whole thing," said Mr. W. ,T. Campbell, Probation Officer. at the Police Court this morning, when Algernon James Body (58), an insurance agent, pleaded guilty when charged with failing to comply with the terms and conditions of his release on probation. Mr. Campbell said Body was placed on two years' probation by the Supreme Court in July last, being ordered to make restitution of £20. Since then accused had not paid anything, while he had failed to report to witness since November. "I am not going to be fooled by these men any longer," Mr. Campbell told the magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean.

Mr. W. W. King (who appeared for Body): Do you recognise a telephone call as reporting to you?—No, I don't! Counsel said Body had been staying with friends at Mount Albert and a few weeks prior to Christmas last he telephoned Mr. Campbell's office and left a message with Mr. Campbell's clerk that he had telephoned. Apparently Mr. Campbell did not consider that as reporting. Accused, who was at present engaged in building a house, could pay forthwith £7 10/ on account of the restitution ordered. Just before he was arrested. Body intended to call and explain things to Mr. Campbell. If he was allowed to go now the case would be a warning to him.

Sub-Inspector McCarthy remarked that when arrested Body had £15 in his possession.

"It is rather curious that you now offer to pay £7 10/ when you are arrested, although you made no attempt previously," Mr. McKean told accused. "It should not be necessary to obtain a warrant for your arrest to bring you to your full sense of responsibility. I feel inclined to send you to gaol for three months."

Mr. Campbell: If your Worship thought of giving him a chance to pay the whole £15 I would be glad. Accused collected money from young women as insurance premiums and did not account for it. The insurance company will not recognise that these premiums have been paid, and I would like those who have paid Body the money to get it back.

Mr. McKean told accused that if he paid £15 forthwith lie would not send him to prison.

Body immediately agreed to "hand over the £15 found on him, whereupon the magistrate convicted and ordered him to come up for sentence on April 24. "If you make a further effort probably I will not impose any further penalty," added Mr. McKean.