TOOK MONEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 86, 13 April 1931, Page 10

TOOK MONEY.

BANK TELLER GAOLED. CRIME AT MORRINSVILLE. VAIN PLEA FOR PROBATION; PROMISING CAREER RUINED. Probation was refused to a Morrinsville bank teller, Keith Fortescue Kenney (27), who was sentenced by Mr. Justice Herdman in the Auckland Supreme Court to-day for committing theft by failing to account. For eleven years Kenney had been employed by the Bank of New -Zealand, said Mr. Bryce Hart, who appeared on his behalf. "He had a promising career which had suddenly been ruined by his "extraordinarily amateurish attempt" to convert money to Iris own use. He took £50 over the counter and put it in his pocket. It was obvious that this would be discovered, and he was quickly found out. He admitted his offence to the bank manager and gave the explanation that he had been in financial difficulties in another district and had been pestered for money. In an impulsive way he had taken the sum he received from a client of the bank. Such a blundering attempt as this lacked the finesse that one expected to see in the artful works of a real criminal. It was a most extraordinary case in every way. He belonged to a wellknown family. The accused was unable to account for his stupidity. Only a week or two previously the bank manager at Morrinsville had received notification that the young man would be removed to another bank, and he had expressed regret that this promising bank official" should be required to leave. To-day marked a tragedy in his life. He had lost his superannuation money, nearly £100, and would have difficulty in getting other employment. Under the circumstances, counsel suggested that the court might show the mercies of probation. Nothing the accused had done suggested a criminal character. His Honor, in passing sentence, said: "Kenney, yours is a sad case. Fre : quently one has to deal with cases of this kind, and it becomes one's painful duty, however unpleasant, to inflict punishment on young men placed in positions of trust. Whether I place you on probation or sentence you to imprisonment, what will count against you is not the punishment, but the fact that you stole the money, was arrested and charged with a criminal offence. You were a young man placed in a position of responsibility, you had charge of trust moneys, you appropriated these moneyb Jmd stole them. The course is not to admit you to probation, but to sentence you to a j term of imprisonment." The sentence was six months' imprisonment with hard labour.