BANK CLERK GOES TO GAOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18843, 18 October 1924, Page 13

BANK CLERK GOES TO GAOL.

SUM OF £535 STOLEN. FALSE STORY OF ARMED MAN. The Melbourne bank clerk, Alfred Edwin Ghittock, aged 25 years, who was found guilty on a charge of having stolen £535 10s from the Canterbury branch of the Commercial Bank of Australia, where lie was engaged as a teller, appeared before Mr. Justice Shutt for sentence. The incident on which the charge was based occurred 011 July 31, when accused reported /to the branch manager, who had. been temporarily called away from the bank to the telephone, that an armed man had entered the bank, shot accused in the hand and foot, and stolen the money. The allegation of the Crown was that accused had stolen the money, and that the wounds in his hand and foot were self-inflicted.

"It has been established in the evidence at the trial," said Mr. Scott Murphy, for Cbittock, "that up to the date of the oflcfocfi the prisoner had an unblemished character. There has apparently been 110 premeditation. His conviction will blast his career, and that punishment would be grave enough without any . imprisonment. In addition he has incurred injuries which will leave him a cripple." Mr. Macjndoc (for the Crown) : That is not ::o. lam told by Dr. Godfrey that there is no need for him to have ciutches. ~

-Mr. Murphy: I suggest that if possible he be treated as a first offender.

Mr. Justice Scluitt (to prisoner) : You had been for some years in the service of the bank, and had apparently won your way to a position in which you were regarded with respect. You abused, the confidence engendered by your previous conduct. The offence which you ' have committed is very serious and calls for substantial punishment. TJie story you told has been rejected by the jury. 1 think that the fact that you put forward such a story shows that the offence was carefully premeditated. The jury has recommended you to mercy on account of you;' age and previous good character. I have considered that recommendation, but. it still remains for me to impose a substantial sentence. The sentence is that you be imprisoned for a period of IS months.