THEFT AND FORGERY BY BANK OFFICER

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 166, 9 April 1938, Page 8

THEFT AND FORGERY BY BANK OFFICER

Prison Sentence Imposed Bv Telegraph —Press Association. Christchurch, April 8. A sentence of one year’s imprisonment was imposed on Thomas Robert Stringer by Mr. .lustice Johnson in the Supreme Court this morning. Stringer had pleaded guilty to thrte charges of theft as a servant and one charge of forgery while in the employ .of the Bank of. New Zealand. Counsel said that after a serious operation four years ago .Stringer had to give up sports and took to gambling. It was then that he committed thetirst .theft of £2lO. ’The bank suspected him, but no ease could be proved and the bank required him to pay the amount back at £2 a month. For six months he reverted to-honesty, but found it impossible to keep himself and six young children and meet his debts as well as pay £2 monthly to the bank. He again turned to gambling and borrowed from a moneylender. In desperation he stole £4OO. This onlypaid his debts, and in February he took £3OO, forging to do so.

“For a man who committed such offences there is only one tiling,’’ said ids Honour. ’'You must pay Hie penalty, otherwise the whole system of criminal law would break down.”