ABUSE OF TRUST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20491, 17 February 1930, Page 7

ABUSE OF TRUST.

LEGION OFFICER'S DOWNFALL'

IMPRISONMENT FOR THEFT.

"I HAVE LOST EVERYTHING/*

[FROM our own correspondent.]

LONDON, Jan. 7

■"I take my medicine like a man. You have stripped mo of :my rank and decorations. I have lost everything. I shall go and serve my sentence, and hope that I shall come back restitution to tho Legion and my little family."

This statement wasi made at the Westminster Police Court; on Saturday by Major Harold Edwin Clieesman, of Aubert Park, Highbury, speaking with emotiou after he had been sentenced to four months' imprisonment in tl\e second division. He had J>een summoned by Lieutenant-Colonel C. R. Crosfield, chairman of the National Executive Council of the British Legion, for stealing £486 12s 7d, moneys of the Legion. Mr. Gerald Dodson, who appeared for the prosecution, said defendant admitted taking the sum mentioned in various amounts between' June and November last. He was secretary for the metropolitan area of the Legion, and was paid a salary of £SOO a year. He was a highlytrusted servant. In November last ifc was discovered that the accounts were not in order, Defendant was interviewed and admitted he had misappropriated various sums. ,•

When confronted with the position, defendant said he would, like to put in writing his explanation, and he wrote a letter to Colonel Crosfield. • In this he stated: "If only I had gore to someone like you in 1926 when I joired the staff o£ the British Legion and tjld you of my difficulties I would not have brought ' this humiliation •on my sell and family. What hurts me so much is that I- have brought disgrace on the British Legion, and the shock to 'bo many people who thought well of me. ,

"I do noii want to whitewash myself or to plead any justification for my wrongdoing, but I want you to know the cause of it all. Those who know me will, I am sure, believe me when I say, I have not benefited by one penny, and everything has gone to others."

Heavily In vol ye d in Debt.

Mr. Dodscn said that afjterwards Chelsman referred! to how his house was burned

down in Ireland, and bow he got into debt there in connection with work for exservice men, /He cume to England in 1925 and became the secretary of the area in 1926. He brought his family to England, obtained inferior accommodation, and was involved in ,1 lawsuit which cost him £9l. He was pressed by creditors, and had recourse to moneylenders, which made his position worse. He took money which did not belong to him, and this had'gone on since 1927. In a second letter to Colonel Crosfield, Major Checsnan said that ha had to admit a deficit of £486 12s 7d. "It had been us id primarily," he wrote, "in meeting debts to moneylenders and others ind liabilities contracted in Ireland in respect" of a house." ,

Mr. Dodson said that was the explanation of Major Cheesman, who "came to the Legion with excellent references. "It is a great pity," continued Mr. Dodson, "that lie did. net tell Colonel Crosfield he was then in debt. Had he done so, 1 do not suppose that would have made any difference to his appointment because his credentials were of the highest." Mr. Dodson added:—"He was a regular soldier. Hs enlisted in 1909, was commissioned on the field in 1916, promoted frcm lieutenant to major in three days ;in 1917, and awarded the Military Cross.

"While, in a large., organisation of this kind, it is impossible to prevent things of this sort happening from time to tune, they are infrequent, and it is just as well it. should bo known that they cannot happen without being discovered. The Legion is run upon strictly business lines, and those responsible feel the necessity for the utmosit care ar d business accuracy in dealing -"With this great reservoic of national benevolence.", ' '. . _ Terrorism in Ireland.

Sir. Dougkis W. Money, who appeared for Cheesman, said ttat be distinguished himself in the Army, and won the M.C., and was mentioned' it. despatches.' After the war ho went to Ireland, and when ho got thetti found that, the ex-service mei\ were entirely unorganised He guaranteed, a lot-of accounts-, using his own money for that paid back 'later. "Then the -revolution came, his house was burned down, he was taken up into the hills, tried by a so-called courtmartial, and threatened with shooting. He never got tho money back, and that has been his. difficulty. Ho. got into the hands of moneylenders, not for his own debts, but 'for the men his tried to assist. I have here a bundle, 0:: testimonials, than which I have never seon any bettor, from the British Legion thanking him for his services. If he is convicted ho will lose his rank, he will loiio hi§ decorations, h«> will lose everything. At present he hat. lost his situation."

The magistrate, in passing sentence, said that it 1 was lamer table to See a man of Major Cli<iesman'i3 character and antecedents in such a pcsition. He could not, however, regaitl-tho case as one of sudden temptation and pass it over without punishment. He passed sentence of four months' imprisonment in tho second

division. Major Cheesman sad he greatly admired tho WciV in which the Legion liad carried out tho prosecution. "I only hope Avliile I am avray," he added, "my friends will remember the work I have done .for the Legion, that I have suffered, and'that they will do their best to take care of my l'amily."