SUPREME COURT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 4 May 1934, Page 2

SUPREME COURT

SENTENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH THEI'T OF MONEYS [By Telegraph—Press Association] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. In the Supreme Court Leslie Cecil Johnson (53), former accountant and organiser of the Gold Baud Taxis, was sentenced to two years’ reformat've detention on four charges of theft of moneys belonging to the proprietor. Counsel for prisoner said ho was educated at Newington College, Sydney, and had a brilliant commercial career. At one time lie was chief accountant in Australia for the Phoenix Assurance Company and later founded the well known accountancy firm of Johnson, Johnson, and Edwards. When he retired lie was worth £40,000. This lie lost in business enterprises, including the failure of the first taxi firm in Sydney. Later lie got into trouble in Wellington but afterwards was prominent on the West Coast and in Christchurch. His salary with the Gold Bands was inadequate and lie yielded to temptation provided by loose business methods- of the office.

His Honour Hr Justice Johnston said the case gnv e him great difficulty, because prisoner’s education and qualifications and his ability made him a menace to the public unless lie were honest. If he sent him to reformative detention the matter cf bis sentence could be reconsidered at a later date. PALMERSTON NORTH SESSION PALMERSTON N., This Day. In the Supreme Court James Courtney, a farm hand (24), charged with indecent assault at Mangaliti, near Paliiatua on 24th February, was found not guilty.