RADCLIFFE FOUND GUILTY

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 42, 18 August 1917, Page 8

RADCLIFFE FOUND GUILTY

THE JURY'S RECOMMENDATION.

After an hours' deliberation yesterday afternoon, the jury in the case against Herbert Eaton Badcliffe, ex-Chief Clerk of the Mines Department, brought in a verdict of guilty, adding the following rider: "That this jury recommends that the attention of the Public Service Commissioner be drawn to the need for better ■safeguards in dealing with public moneys : (1) By requiring payees to write the amount in words when requiring receipts; and (2) by making a regulation to the effect that certifying officers cannot operate either on imprest' account or deposit account without the counter signature of another responsible officer." In summing up, Mr. Justice Hosking dealt a good deal with the question of intent and the suggestion that owing to the condition of mind of the accused he did not know what he was doing, nor was he then capable of forming a guilty intention. His Honour also mentioned the unique defence put up on behalf of Radcliffe, and complimented the latter's counsel (Mr. T. M. Wilford) on his powerful address to the jury.

In imposing sentence of nine months' imprisonment, his Honour said it was sometimes painful to have to do one's duty. Radcliffe was in a position of trust, which enabled him to commit the sets of which he had been found to be guilty. It was not a case for probation, and a sentence must be imposed. He agreec. with the suggestion that the accused now thoroughly realised his position, and that his action was not so much due to a criminal mind as to his moral senses having been blunted by the excessive use of liquor. " I hope he will not lapse again," he added.