MISAPPROPRIATION OF £11,431.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 4870, 14 February 1933, Page 1

MISAPPROPRIATION OF £11,431.

TWO MEN WHO STOLE FOE YEARS.

Christchurch, Feb. 11

For the theft of £11,431, Clarence Alfred Palmer, aged 33, and Walter Vernon .W-isonmn, aged 33, formerly employed .by the Alliance Assurance Co., were each sentenced to four years’ hard labour. The thefts extended over several years. Mr Justice Reed said it was extraordinary that they had not been discovered before.

Mr Laseelles, counsel for the prisoners, said it was unfortunate that in the office there was free access to the cash box. There was no audit of the cash box, the premium registers were not checked, ail'd the two men fell into the clutches of the system when they were little more than youths. In 1920 they attempted to break the practice, hut were unable to do so. If there had (been a check the thefts would have been discovered years

ago. “The offences occurred mainly at a time when the world gave itself to pleasure, and they, saw too much of race meetings and cars,’’ said Mr Laseelles, “and simply frittered the money awav.”

“They had a salary of £3OO, which they increased to £1,000,” said his Honour. Counsel said there was no indication that the men were of a debased criminal type.

“There would be some force to your argument if there had been any need for them to go on with the thefts to hide what, they had already taken, but there was not,” said his Honour. “This is a shocking case.” It was not his business, his Honour continued, to say anythng convening how the books of the company were kept. It seemed extraordinary, however, that the thefts were not discovered before. It seemed only reasonable that responsible persons in the firm should lie aware how their employees were spending their money.

There was really no excuse for the prisoners, continued fiis Honour. If they had started young ‘they could have pulled up. They intended to rob their employers as long as they could. It was necessary to inflict a punishment which would serve as a deterrent to others who might be in Ihe same position. He therefore sentenced each man to four years’ hard labour.