PRISONERS SENTENCED

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 August 1933, Page 7

PRISONERS SENTENCED

CLERKS ROB EMPLOYER “EXTRAORDINARY POSITION” [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, August 17. Mr Justice Reed sentenced tho following prisoners, at the Supreme Court, to-day, until recently employed in responsible positions by the Phoenix Association Company, Arthur Philip Pool, 37, John William Darrock, 23, Harold’ Percy Campbell, 22, got two years’ reformative, twelve months’ reformative, and two years at Borstal, respectively for theft of money belonging to the company. Pool took £363/16/10, Darrock £5B 15/3, and Campbell £685. His Honor said the most extraordinary position was revealed. The three persons had been deliberately robbing the company for some time. As far as he could .see from the statements, there was no collusion between them. They were simply three independent thieves stealing from the Company. It was a most extraordinary state of affairs, and very serious. Albert Lionel Bailey, 39, formerly a solicitor at Napier, appeared for sentence on five charges, one involving theft of £2lll/11/11, three of forgery, and one of making a false declaration. On the charge of theft, he was sentenced to five years, the terms on the other charges being made concurrent.

John Asher, for breaking, entering, and theft, two charges, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment, on each charge, "concurrent, and declared an habitual criminal. INVERCARGILL DECISIONS. INVERCARGILL, August 17. The following prisoners were sentenced at the Supreme Court, to-day: — Hugh Healey, 58, negligently driving a motor car while intoxicated, causing death, twelve months’ hard labour. His driving license was suspended for years. The Judge remarked that intoxicated motorists were a menace of the road, and he must impose a sentence that would act as a deterrent.. Charles Robert McCreath, thirteen charges, of breaking, entering and theft, four years’ reformative detention. George Alexander Parry, similar charges, two and a-half years’ reformative detention. William Arthur Stewart, nine charges breaking, entering and theft, eighteen months’ imprisonment and eighteen months’ reformative detention. Thomas O’Connor, breaking and entering, tw’o years’ hard labour. Thomas George McCreath, forgery and uttering, two years’ hard labour. Albert John Sanders, theft of rabbit skins, two years’ probation.

AT CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, August 17. Described by his counsel as mow fool than knave, William Reginald Norman, a bankrupt car salesman, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to disclose property to the Official Assignee, was 'sentenced by Judge McGregor to six months’ imprisonment. Eric Hathaway, a seaman, found guilty of a technical offence of indecent assault, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on. Counsel said the prisoner, in addition, would be heavily punished by the naval authorities. BANKRUPT ACQUITTED.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 16.

At the Supreme Court, a charge was heard against John Crankley Rex, bankrupt hotelkeeper, of not disclosing all his property to the Official Assignee. The prosecution alleged that prisoner tried to conceal the fact that he had a £7OO investment.

James Hope Robertson. Official Assignee, said he first became aware of the £7OO when one of the creditors told him the 'sum was represented by a debenture in the concern Colosseums Ltd. Witness interviewed the bankrupt, who made a statutory declaration that the sum belonged to his mother. Mrs Rex made a similar declaration, and witness decided not to pursue the matter further. William John Stacey, solicitor, said that Rex interviewed him in December, 19.30, about a sum of £7OO. Rex said he had £7OO in the Post Office. His financial position was bad, and Rex asked whether, in the event of his bankruptcy, the money would be traceable to him by the Official Assignee if it were in the Post Office. Witness said it would. Rex, at a later conversation, asked if the money could be placed in the trust account of witness’s firm, and, if it were there, would it be traced by the Assignee. Witnes told him it would be traceable. Rex asked whether it could be put in another name. Witness said it could not. Later Rex brought in £7OO in notes, and the money was credited to Rex’s account. Rex did not tell wit; ness the money was his mother’s. The money was paid out in two sums, under authorities signed by Rex, and, in effect, was lent by Rex to A. F. Stacey, witness’s brother, who was concerned with Colosseums Ltd., Two months after the money had been paid out, witness suggested to Rex that he get security for the loan, and witness prepared a debenture over Colosseums Ltd. For the last year, the debenture had not been of much value. Cross-examined, witness said he would have nothing to do with a scheme suggested by accused to defeat his creditors. He was certain at the time that the money was Rex’s. Before the bankruptcy, Mrs Rex was claiming the money. In May, 1932, a few days before Rex went bankrupt, witness entered into an agreement to pay the money to Mrs Rex. After the agreement was made, difficulty was experienced in meeting the payments, and a writ was threatened. His partner, C. S. Penlington, then made a statement of the facts to the Official Assignee. He would agree that, possibly, if there had been no threat of a writ, no disclosure would have been made to the Assignee. Cecil Spenser Penlington. solicitor, partner of the witness Stacey, gave supporting evidence. Peter George Harle, public accountant, told of the part of the transactions of which he had knowledge. No evidence was called for the defence. The jury found Rex not guilty.