PUBLIC MONEY THEFTS

Evening Star, Issue 19272, 10 June 1926, Page 6

PUBLIC MONEY THEFTS

PROBATION REFUSED [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 10. In the Supreme Court, before His Honor the Chief Justice (Mr Justice Skorrett), Robert Stanley Hanna pleaded guilty to the theft of moneys as servant of the Masterton County Council, amounting to over £3OO. Mr Watson, for accused, said ho was a married man, with two small children, and hitherto had borne a blameless character The reasons for the defalcations were the pressing need of a younger brother, for whom accused had borrowed on his own house on mortgage, and also pressure by Waihi creditors for old debts. The Chief Justice said that, while there werv circumstances that would incline him to give probation, lie felt it to be impossible. A judge’s duty was to make punishment a deterrent. Theft had taken place during two years,_ while Hanna was receiving a salary of £550 a year. The sentence would bo eighteen months’ reformative detention.

Refusing probation in the case of George Thoms, who pleaded guilty to two charges of theft as a postal servant, the sum- involved being £IOO. the Chief Justice said that peculation of moneys, both public and private, was far too common, and tolerance must he detrimental to the public interest. He imposed a sentence of twelve months’ reformative detention.