MONEY STOLEN

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4844, 12 May 1936, Page 4

MONEY STOLEN

STATE OFFICIAL. REFORMATIVE DETENTION. SENTENCE OF TWO YEARS. Having admitted 14 charges of theft while in the employ of the Lands and Survey Department at Te Kuiti, the defalcations amounting to £391, Richard Cleverdon came before Mr. Justice Fair for sentence yesterday morning. For the accused, Mr. Mackersey, of Te Kuiti, mentioned that reports to the Court suggested that there were further defalcations, and he asked his Honour to dismiss this aspect from his mind in imposing sentence on the charges which had been admitted. Counsel added that accused had been in the employ of the Department from 1918. Since going to Te Kuiti in 1925 his work had been arduous, particularly in the depression period. He had been a highly efficient officer of the Department. Counsel referred to accused’s fine war record, and stated that he had received the Military Medal and later the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His Honour said that it was impossible to admit the accused to probation, but he would consider only the 14 charges which had been admitted. These amounts were taken between 1932 and 1936, and the larger sums seemed to have been stolen during the last year of that period. That was the time when his duties were not so arduous as previously. Accused’s services to the Department and to the country were such as he might well be proud of. The reports as to Cleverdon’s conduct showed that the amount of drinking and gambling he indulged in earlier were no more than those of the company in which he had to mix, but during the last year his character seemed to' have weakened by indulging to a greater extent. His Honour added that he had to consider that the offences were deliberately committed and repeated. Because of accused’s particularly good services, a sentence of two years’ reformative detention, instead of three years, would be imposed.