THE CASE OF JOHN DOUGLAS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10630, 8 June 1897, Page 3

THE CASE OF JOHN DOUGLAS.

Auckland, Monday, At the Supreme Court, John Douglas, land agent, pleaded Ruilty to several ctmrges of theft, totalling £1700, and one charge of forgery, and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. Mr Theo. Cooper pleaded for a lenient eentence, pointing out that the prisoner, on his own confession, was disgraced and dishonored for life, and that the punishment Inflicted by tue Court would be bat small iv proportion to the anguish he must necessarily suffer. He explained that Donglan bad lost the money in a timber mill speculation. In passing sentence Jndge Conolly regretted seeing a man in the prisoner's position who had hitherto borne n very good reputation. He alsio regretted that he was compelled to add that his reputation had been obtained entirely through false pretences, None who were associated with the acoused, believing him to be a man of integrity and strong religious views, oould have had an idea that for two years at least he was carrying on systematlo robbery. He must posa a severe sentence— five years' imprisonment on eaoh charge, the sentences to run oon* currently.