THEFT OF £259.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 202, 28 August 1933, Page 9

THEFT OF £259.

CLERK'S OFFENCES. "TO MEET GAMBLING DEBTS." SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT. On 23 charges of forgery and two charges of theft as a servant, James Duggan Stephens, aged 26, was sentenced by Mr. Justice Herdman at.the Supreme Court to-day to a period of reformative detention not exceeding three years. Mr. Wright, counsel for the prisoner, said Stephens had for nine years been employed by the Public Trust Department. He had had a brilliant career at school and but for gambling would never have appeared in Court. He had started betting and had borrowed money, and to meet his gambling debte misappropriated the money from the Department. "The- conviction he will carry for the remainder of his career and the gates opening to 'positions of trust have now been closed to him," eaid counsel. "He realises he owes a debt to society, and intends to pay it." Mr. Wright asked the Court to be as lenient as possible. His Honor eaid the most serious part about the matter to the prisoner was that he appeared to-day in the criminal dock, something which he would never forget. "However, it becomes my unpleasant duty to sentence you to imprisonment. I find that from the Public Trust Office you appropriated all told a sum of £259. The case is just common theft, and you will be sentenced to reformative detention for a period not exceeding three years."