FORMER LAWYER IMPRISONED

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28766, 11 December 1958, Page 13

FORMER LAWYER IMPRISONED

Pleas Of Guilty To Theft And Forgery

(New Zealand Press Association) WESTPORT, December 10.

A former Westport barrister and solicitor, Alonzo Augustus Craig, aged 43, married with three childfen, and now a clerk of Christchurch, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment today by Mr H. J. Thompson, S.M., i when he faced 16 charges of theft from clients, involving a total of £967 15s 4d, and one of forging the name of his brother, John C. Craig, to a document on November 10, 1955. Accused pleaded guilty to all charges, and elected to be dealt with by the Magistrate. He was represented oy Mr D. Taylor, of Greymouth. Senior Detective R. A. Smith, of Greymouth, prosecuted. Mr Smith said that Craig had t>een admitted as a barrister and solicitor on February 17, 1947. He carried on a partnership at Westport until 1950, when he went on his own. In January, 1956, accused was struck off the roll as a result of a disciplinary move by the Westland branch of the Law Society. Later investigations had been made into Craig’s accounts. Mr Smith said the auditor had been busy since then, going into mortgage accounts and other protracted dealings and the end of his investigations was not yet in sight, in fact the cost of the audit to date exceeded the amount of the defalcations discovered. Senior Detective Smith said that the delay ia bringing the charges forward had been caused by the long time taken up with the audit. “As investigations are not likely to be completed for many months, it has been decided to close the police fils and bring the present charges,’’ added Mr Smith.

Mr Taylor traced Craig’s brilliant career at school;, college and university from the time he won a scholarship at Westport until he graduated as an L.L.B. and then L.L.M. with Honours. He also referred to Craig’s service in the Middle East in World War 11. Counsel said that accused had done his best to rehabilitate himself and was held in high esteem by his present employers. The, Magistrate said he could not consider a term of probation. He sentenced Craig to six months each on the two charges concerning Adams, and a further six months for the theft of £2OO from J. C. Craig, all terms to be cumulative. He was convicted and discharged on the other 14 charges.