YOUNG MAN'S LAPSE

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 116, 13 November 1919, Page 7

YOUNG MAN'S LAPSE

A well-dressed young man named Andrew Douthart, appeared before Mr. E. Page, S.M „at the Magistrate's Court to-day, on a charge of having stolen thp sum of £10 Is Id, the property of {Thomas Dellaca, storekeeper, of Reefton. The facts given by Sub-Inspector Emerson were that the accused during a holiday worked at the Globe mine, Reefton, and earned a sum of £13 3s, for which vouchers were received. He owed the storekeeper a sum of £1 16s, and when paying this Dellaca said that he would cash the other warrants. This was done with one exception, accused returning ono warrant for £1 6s, which was later presented to the clerk of the mine. It was then that accused was told that the other money represented by the vouchers was due to him, and w(hen the clerk offered payment he accepted. Nothing else was known against the accused. Detective-Sergeant Rawle gave evidence as to arVesting Douthart, and receiving an explanation that the accused's lack of moral courage had prevented him returning the money. Mr. W Perry, who appeared for the accused, entered a plea of guilty, and appealed for leniency. The accused had a previously unblemished character, and an excellent position. The occurrence had been due to a mistake on the part of the clerk at the mine. A fine of £15 was imposed, in default one month's imprisonment.