OFFENCE COMMITTED NINE YEARS AGO

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22591, 22 December 1938, Page 7

OFFENCE COMMITTED NINE YEARS AGO

LABOURER BEFORE COURT

CTBESS iBSOCIATIOW nUtliK.) • WELLINGTON, December 21. Ernest Allison Roddis, aged 58, a greenkeeper and labourer, appeared before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate' 3 Court, and pleaded guilty to obtaining £2 16s 5d from Elsie Johnson, a storekeeper, of Hope, Nelson, by means of a valueless cheque for £3 12s on October 25, 1929. He was ordered to come up for sentence if called on within six months.

In outlining the facts, DetectiveSergeant Doyle mentioned that accused issued six other valueless cheques; but for some reason or other only one information was laid at the time, and considering the lapse of time it was not thought that further action was warranted.

When interviewed accused frankly admitted the facts. He had a fairly formidable list.

Mr Evans Scott, for the accused, made a strong plea that Roddis be given a chance to rehabilitate himself. The previous lapses occurred in four groups, and the accused might be said to have been in trouble only on four previous occasions. He had overcome a weakness for drink, and felt that in overcoming that he had overcome his criminal tendencies. He submitted that the interests of the public would not be served by the imposition of a prison term. Restitution of £3 12s was made a condition of the sentence.