FAILURE TO ACCOUNT

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 39, 16 February 1933, Page 13

FAILURE TO ACCOUNT

MONEY FOR STARVING WIFE

Stating that he had taken the riioney to send to his wife who was starving, Harold Wedgwood Holmes pleaded guilty before Mr. E. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court rtoday to a charge of failing to account for £26 19s 9d to Malcolm G. C. McCaul, thereby committing theft. Detective-Sergeant Revell said that about three years ago the accused started a business known as the Wedgwood Oil Company. The company incurred a debt of £195 with a firm named Phillips and Pyke; and in October, 1931, the accused handed over his estate to them. He then became a representative of the company. Between December 1 and December 19 the accused collected from clients the ainounj; of money mentioned in the charge, and converted it to .his own- use. The accused stated to the police that he needed the money to-buy food- for his wife; chilgj, and other dependants. : The accused neither drank nor smoked, and as far as the police knew he had always borne a good character. The accused told the Magistrate that the Detective-Sergeant was incorrect when he said he was employed as a representative of the firm. He received no money at all. ._:'., ■ '■ . • "I think this is a case for probation." said Mr. T. P. Mills, the Probation Officer. "He has no vices and I think he will do his best." The Magistrate admitted the accused to probation for a period of twelve months. An order was made that he should refund tbe money at a rate to be fixed by the Probation Officer.