GOOD PENMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 238, 9 October 1933, Page 3

GOOD PENMAN.

CLERK ADMITS OFFENCES.

VALUELESS CHEQUES ISSUED.

"There is little to be said in excuse for your conduct, and tins is not tlie first occasion on which you have been before tiio Court," said his Honor Mr. Justice Herdman when sentencing Herbert Leah Paterson (30) in the Supreme Ciurt this morning. Paterson. had pleaded guilty to two charges of obtaining credit by false pretences and one charge of obtaining credit by fraud, the ain mints involved being £7, £3, and 13/;!.

Mr. Xoble, for the prisoner, said Paterson was just over 30 years of nge, was well educated, and for many years Lad been employed by a large firm in Christclxurch. When the depression came Paterson found himself out of employment, and as a clerk he was unable to get a position. "He then appears to have drifted along, and, being a good penman, yielded to great temptation. He went into a bank at Dargaville and obtained two counter cheques, which he filled in and had no difficulty in cashing. He says lie was under the influence of liquor at the time. lie was on relief wo_rk, and I hope your Honor will see some extenuating circumstance- and impose a light sentence."

His Honor said Paterson had previously been before the Court at Wellington for issuing a valueless cheque, and had apparently been admitted to probation and given a clianee to lead an honest life. "There is nothing in the signatures on these cheques to indicate you were under the influence of liquor when you signed them," eaid his Honor. "Ycu will be sentenced to a period of reformative detention not exceeding two years."