Pocketed His Band’s Gold

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 3, 5 January 1937, Page 9

Pocketed His Band’s Gold

MYSTERY OE WHY HE WAS SUSPECTED How station officials came to suspect a bank clerk who, it transpired, had deposited stolen gold in the cloak room, w r as kept a secret when the story of the incident was told at the Guildhall. Inspector Gankefseer, of the City Police, when questioned on the point by Alderman Sir Harry Twyford, replied that that was information which he did not wish to disclose. Sentence of three months in the second division was passed on Peter George Pringle, 29, of Bradstock road, Stoneleigh, Surrey, a clerk at the Lotlibury branch of the Westminster Bank, who pleaded guilty to stealing £412 in sovereigns from the vaults of the bank. Pringle, it was stated, had been employed by the bank since 1925, and his salary was £314 a year. On July 11 he, with others, was dealing with bags of gold in the vaults when he slipped one into his pocket. Later he bought an attache case, put the gold in it, and left it at Waterloo Station cloak room. '

A month later he called at the cloak room, removed SO of the sovereigns, and redeposited the case.

Subsequently the officials at Waterloo became suspicious, and when Pringle went to claim the case he was arrested.

The case was found to contain the balance of £332 in sovereigns.

Mr Prideaux, prosecuting, remarked the bank was not vindictive, but tae case was one it could not overlook. He understood that £47 was being paid back to the bank.

Mr Geoffrey Gush, defending, mentioned that Pringle was married, with one child. His father, a pensioner from the same bank, was critically ill. “There is no excuse I can offer for this extraordinary lapse,’’ added Mr Gush. “He apparently got a bit hard up, and suddenly, handling the gold, it must have become an obsession with him to take it.

“Some of the money was spent, but £47 had been repaid, and I understand that a further £SO will also be paid. “If the stigma of conviction and imprisonment can be avoided, he may possibly, with the help of friends, get another position.” Alderman Twyford remarked he had listened to what Mr. Gush said, but while he would be willing to adopt a lenient course, it would not be consistent with his duty.