RED CROSS THEFTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17861, 6 August 1918, Page 7

RED CROSS THEFTS.

-»■ • COLE SENTENCED "TO ONE YEAR'S HARD LABOUR. Arthur Richard Cole, who had pleaded guilty to four charges of theft of funds of the Red Cross Society, came before his Honor Mr Justice Herdman for sentence at the Supreme Court yesterday. Mr Alpers. who appeared for the prisoner, stated that Cole was sixty-two years of age. He had in his late life met with two peculiar experiences. He had married and a child was born. In an endeavour to make provision for liifi wife and child he had entered into a business, acquiring a shop in Oxford Terrace, and stock, of church books, literature, and so forth. Pie had no knowledge of the business. He had been a"clerk all his life, and a very good one, it had been shown. Prisoner had the complete confidence of a large number of Church people, and being well known was entrusted with moneys donated to the Red Crops Fund. Prisoner had put the money into his own account, not with any intention of embezzling, but intending to pay it over in the ordinary way- He had. given a cheque .previously in connection with the London creditor of the business, and this had been presented at the time that the Red Cross money was in his account. He had given a cheque to the Red Cross officials, which was dishonoured on presentation. Prisoner had drawn monf>v from the business for domestic use, and was not aware that his affairs had drifted into a mess. It had to be admitted that twentyeight years ago, at Dunedin, Cole was convicted and to coma up for sentence for the >theft of a sum of £2O from his employer. He asked that the clemency of the Court, should be ex tended, and that the prisoner shoulj be granted probation Mr Raymond stated that the Red Cross frauds had extended over twelva months. A total of £IBO had been embezzled, of which £lO had been repaid. An opportunity had been presented prisoner to collect funds because of the trust placed in him. It was not until he had become bankrupt that the embezzlement had some to light. His Honor stated that ho had listened ito the pleading of prisoner's counsel with interest, but he regretted that he could not extend probation. It was regrettable that a man of'prisoner's age, with good antecedents, should have made such a serious blunder. Prisoner had been trusted with funds on behalf of the public because of his presumed good character. That confidence, however, had been misplaced. Twenty-eight years ago prisoner had committed a lapse, and circumstances had evidently arisen which created the temptation to steal, which he had been unable to resist. Prisoner would be sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment, with hard labour.