THEFT AS SERVANT

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 189, 8 May 1931, Page 5

THEFT AS SERVANT

Elderly Man’s Lapse

A sentence of 18 months’ reformative detention was passed by Mr. Justice Reed at _ the Supreme Court yesterday upon William Ernest Clapham, an elderly man, who had pleaded guilty to the theft as a servant of £205,” the property of his employers, Wilson.'Canham and Co., Ltd.

After evidence as to character had been given by Alexander Justice Moore, chairman of the Johnsonville Town Board, Mr. Dunkley made a plea for leniency on accused’s behalf. Counsel said that Clapham’s accomplice had been caught red-handed and had endeavoured to make Clapham out as the instigator and master mind. It was obvious, however, that a so-called master mind, after having been warned by the police, would not voluntarily have made such a full and frank confession. Clapham was a single man and had no need to steal the money. , > “That makes it all the worse,” remarked his Honour. “It could be understood were his position such that he was trying to get some assistance from the money, but according to his own statement he did not require the money, and seems to have spent most of it on drink and horse-racing.” . “His idea was to help a man who did require money,” observed counsel. “How,” ' asked his Honour sharply, “could he help the man by taking the money,' and spending it on drink and horse-racing?’’ “He helped with the scheme,” said Mr. Dunkley. “If it was some altruistic-idea of his, said Mr. Justice Reed, “why did he not give the whole of the money to the other man?” His Honour said that he felt strongly inclined to increase the sentence in view of the allegation which- had been made against the prisoner’s employers, but fie would not do this. He had decided to impose the same sentence as had been passed upon the accomplice.