IN THE COURTS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 12244, 4 May 1934, Page 2

IN THE COURTS

tTHEFT OF MjONEYS accountant remanded for SENTENCE (Tress Association CHRIST OH UR'Cffi, /M ay «. In the Supreme 'Court to-day the hearing iwas continued of 24 charges of theft and eight of forgery against Leslie Cecil Johnson, formerly accountant and organiser of the Gold Band Taxis, the amount involved being £426.

Counsel for the defence said the case was not one for criminal prosecution. Prisoner saved Trillo’s business by a masterly stroke of finance so that the creditors, who had been clamouring for a settlement, actually in effect lent TriUo £2OOO free of interest for 15 months. It was hard to believe that Johnson was only to be paid as a junior clerk when he had really become the Gold Band Taxis and TriUo the figurehead.

His Honor said counsel for the defence had l addressed the jury eloquently, but there were certain tilings he had mentioned which should not influence them. (They could get out of their minds that this twas a case for 'a civil settlement. It had been very properly been brought before them to bo dealt with as a criminal, matter. Any feeling of gratitude should not he expected to condone the commission of crime.

The jury returned 'a verdict of guilty on the four charges of theft that the Crown had particularised.

Prisoner was remanded for sentence until to-morrow. On the other theft charges, there was a formal verdict of not guilty. A stay of proceedings was applied for oil the forgery counts.