STARTED IN 1914.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 274, 18 November 1936, Page 8

STARTED IN 1914.

"GOING EVER SINCE."

CAREER OF CRIME

YOUNG MAN'S BAD RECORD

"This young man has a bad list of previous convictions," said Detective Sergeant A. IS. Meiklejolni, in the Police Court, this morning, after Cyril Lewis Walter Witliell," 'alias McGregor, aijd Cameron, had pleaded guilty to two charges. The charges preferred Were for obtaining £13 io/8 from, the New Zealand Co-Operative Farmers' at Cliristchurcli on September 28 by means, of a. valueless cheque, and at Kotorua on October 24 he was deemed to be.a rogue and vagabond in that he solicited contributions by falsely representing that he was authorised to do so by the St. John Ambulance Association. Detective-Sergeant Meiklejolni said that Withell went to see the time payment manager of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative at Cliristchurcli on September 2S, and tendered a cheque for £18 in payment of £5 which he owed the firm. The cheque was cashed and Withell was paid £13 10/8 in change. It was later found on presentation of the cheque that it was valueless, and that the cheque form had been stolen from a Cliristchurcli cycle dealer. When seen by a detective in Auckland Withell was frank about the matter, and said he had since spent all the money. Referring to the other charge, Detec-tive-Sergeant Meiklejolni said Withell, while in Kotorua on October 24, being' short of money, conceived the idea of collecting contributions from house to house by representing that he was authorised to do so. After collecting 9/ he came to Auckland and committed the same ■ offence here. He was also for sentence on that charge. He had no permission to collect on behalf of the St. John Ambulance, of course. "I see by liis list of previous convictions that lie started off in 1914 and has been going steadily from time to time since then," said Mr. Hunt. "'Just look at his list. .He has been given chance after chance." / - - On the first charge Withell was sentenced to six months' to be followed by two years' reformative detention. The sum of 6/4 found in Witliell'S possession, which he said lie had collected, was ordered to be handed to the St. John Ambulance Association.