CLEMENCY ASKED FOR SMITH

Press, Volume L, Issue 14898, 11 February 1914, Page 5

CLEMENCY ASKED FOR SMITH

,Sharply at 2 pan., Smith, McOormick •ad Campbell were ushered into the dock. ..••'... Jlr Raymond, K.C., who appeared fer Smith, said there were ten charges of theft against accused, and one «&&rge of conspiracy. la reply to his Honour, Mr Ostler •aid the one charfio of conspiracy reUted to all the cases. Continuing, Mr Raymond said Smith «as a young man who had just turned 38 years of ape. Prior to entering the «ernce of the New Zealand Express Company, in whose employ ho had been »w four years, he had been in the service of J. M. Heywood and Co. as an office boy and a very junior clerk. He left that firm's employ with a good character. Smith entered tho Express Company's service as a junior clerk in •n % an<i a i Hnior c ferk he remained till after his arrest. When he entered that service a system was in vogue, and tod been in vogue a considerable tame m fraud* on the Customs. Smith was an unmarried man. He had not gambled nor drank, but had led a healthy, atliletic life. From information counsel had, Smith had no great accumulation of money. He started at £2 a. week, and his income at the time of {"/"tst was £195 per annum. Smith had hved considerably above his position. Not many months after entering the Express Company's employ he filipDed. with others-— _H£s Honour: "There is no slipping. He must have gone deliberately into the matter. This was an organised ""and, and one going on for years. • j i ° a y mon d. said ho did not wish ta indulge m recriminations or accusations against anyone else. His learned friends would address his Honour on behalf of their chants. Having onco beon led "•"* the affair, however, it was very aard. for Smith to retire.

His Honour: Why could he not have pulled out P Mr Baymond: The cases were, of course, interlaced. His Honour: Ido not see it.v Waa there any compulsion? Mr Raymond: There was no compulsion at all. Obviously, however, Smith would be in the hands of his associate. He would have knowledge of any-transaction because of his previous knowledge. ; .Continuing, Mr Raymond said Smith •was an under-clerk to McCormick.