CANVASSER’S THEFTS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10664, 14 August 1928, Page 2

CANVASSER’S THEFTS

MONEYS MISAPPROPRIATED

RELEASED ON PROBATION

THEN ARRESTED ON FURTHER CHARGE. >

Misappropriation of moneys collected. Ijy him on behalf of his firm was admitted by a young man, Wm. Henry Danvers, 22, who appeared before 31r. 15. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. The charges against, him were, of receiving on March,l7, at Woodvillo, £3 from Walter 'N. V. Richards ; on March 30 at Cambridge, 10s from Harold Stephen Bretts; on March 8; at Matamata, £4 from Arrol D. McKenna, on terms requiring him to pay the amounts to James Johnstone, Ltd., Dunedin, and that he| fraudulently omitted to do so, thereby committing thoft.. A further charge of giving an unstamped receipt, at Woodville, on March 8, was also preferred against accused, who admitted all the offences. Til June, last year, explained Sergt. Mclntyre, outlining the facts, Dan-' vors met in Rotorua a Mr. Atkinson, a salesman for Joluistone’s Ltd., and agreed to work in conjunction with him in. canvassing for orders for a certain line of books. Accused’s commission was fixed at 10 per cent, on all sales and an additional 2-5 per cent, on orders exceeding £l5O, and he had to pay his own travelling and board and lodging expenses. The men canvassed a number of towns iin the North Island, finishing up in Christchurch in December, last, where Danvers and Atkinson, severed association. Danvers was then engaged directly by tho firm, his commission being increased to 15 per cent 1 . In January and February the amount of business brought in by accused wns so unsatisfactory that a letter was sent! on March 2 by the firm dismissing him from their employ. Apparentlv the letter had been received as it had not yet been returned through the dead letter office. Immediately following this notification accused visited a number of people, frpm whom he obtained orders and asked for payment of instalments on the books, which in some cases were given, and he had misappropriated the moneys. In the case of Richards, after receiving the money, ho gave an unstamped receipt. From then on accused had been travelling from town to town and had incurred a debt for £29 ait the Dannevirko Hospital for treatment, which had not been paid. He also obtained a trip by a motor service car from Masterton to Gisborne, on the representations that he was coming here to take a position ‘as herd tester, anti by similar means had obtained credit from a boardinghouse proprietor to the extent of £2. He understood that accused had undergone a herd testing course at the Massey Agricultural College, but the fee for Ins tuit ion Jiad hot yet been paid. A ecuscd had also incurred other unauthorised expenditure and charged it up to the firm. , . , “It is a sad case, obviously brought on by under-rate pay, remarked Mr. J. S. Wauchopy who represented accused. The Court, no doubt, realised the difficulty of a canvasser in endeavoring to dispose of educational volumes to working people these times by door to door canvassing. He- pointed out that when people who had contracted 1 to -take the books did. not* maintain .tlieii instalments this was deducted.from the canvasser’s commission. Hie Court would be able to appreciate the dillioultv of uneinployod men earning « decent livelihood und - therefore tlie> were -Compelled to take any work offering, and that was the reason that so many canvassers'were on the road now, compared with 20 to 25 years ago. Tho towns which.accused had worked had been covered previously and, finding it hard to keep going, lie converted tho moneys lie obtained to his own use, hoping to bo able to forward them, later. Accused had nover received notice of his dismissal and had first heard of it from the police a few days ago. Counsel explained that accused had undergone training for a herd tester at the Ma.ssoy Agricultural College, and came hero to apply for a position that was then offering. He suggested accused should ho admitted to probation. The Magistrate granted accused probation for 12 months on the first charge, convicting and discharging him on the balance of tho charges upon condition that lie mndo restitution of the moneys when the probation officer wns satisfied he could do so. “You have an opportunity to go straight now,” concluded the S.M., “II liopo'you will take it.” ■ An hour later, however, Danvers was again before the Court on a charge of stealing an overcoat valued at £5. on July 29, at Masterton ; Sienior-Scrgb. McLean- explained that, after Danvers had been dealt with on tho other charges, Constable King, on bis ro-und of' the secondhand shops, had found an overcoat had been sold for 17s Gd. He secured the garment and accused, when interviewed, admitted stealing it at Master ton. , -. .. On .the application ot the. police, accused was remanded for a week.