A SALESMAN'S. LAPSE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 4, 5 July 1927, Page 11

A SALESMAN'S. LAPSE

FOUK CHAEGES OP THEFT

Four charges of having committed theft by failing to account to Messrs. W. T. Johnston and Co. for £29 15s 4d, were admitted by a salesman, John Alexander Fettes, aged 28, in the Mag-istrates-Court this afternoon.

Chief-Detective Ward said that the accused, who was employed as a travelling salesman by the company, was discovered in April last to have misappropriated £22 18s 4d/ He promised to make restitution, and had, in fact repaid £4 10s, but it was later found that he!, had, misappropriated further sums totalling £29 15s 4d. He was a married man, and in June, 1924, had been sentenced to one year's imprisonment for theft as a servant.

Mr. B. J. Dolan, for accused, said that he had been drinking during the period of the offences, and had had domestic troubles. His wife was willing to forfeit maintenance if her husband were ordered to go home to his people in Scotland, and counsel suggested that this course, if possible, should be adopted. Mr. Page remarked that he did not think other countries would thank New Zealand if offenders were sent there. " He had a public duty to perform, and' he would be obliged to impose a term of imprisonment. On each of the two charges, involving the biggest amounts, the accused was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, to be served concurrently, and on the other two he was convicted and discharged. ■