“A GROSS OFFENCE.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3296, 15 August 1911, Page 7

“A GROSS OFFENCE.”

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE DEFALCA-

TIONS, CLERK RECEIVES HARD LABOR SENTENCE. \ (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.J CHRISTCHURCH, August 14. At the Supreme Court in . Christchurch tio-day, a young man, Alexander William Ironside (Mr Donnelly) pleaded guilty to the theft of £7OO, the property of the Public Trustee. ■ Mr Donnelly said accused, who was only twenty-three years of age, had unfortunately become associated with those whose means were mere than his own. and in his extravagance had fallen. Accused had paid back all the money which had been in his possession, and he had also transferred back an equity in his house to the Public Trustee. He had friends who were prepared to find work for him on a station in the country as soon as his sentence should have expired. The Crown Prosecutor said that the amount unrecovered was over £4OO, and he could see no extenuation whatever for the offence. The defalcations had taken place over a period of 18 months, and on one occasion accused had destroyed all records of his defalcation, and the fact had only been discovered by the parties concerned making complaints to the Public Trustee. His Honor said that accused stood convicted of a gross offence. His age was the only tiling in his favor, and he would be sentenced to imprisonment with hard labor for eighteen months.