GAOL FOR BUILDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20519, 21 March 1930, Page 16

GAOL FOR BUILDER.

THEFT OF WOMAN'S MONEY.

"OTHER CLIENTS CHEATED."

COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE.

"You received this money for tho purpose of paying it to the Dilworth Trust .Board and you did not do so. You have cheated your other clients, and I have seen you before. Take one month's imprisonment. I hope this will prevent others . of your kind from 'taking down' innocent women." These remarks were made by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday when he sentenced Victor Reginald Thom, builder, to one month's imprisonment for stealing £lB 10s, the property of Ruby Pearl Porter. • Accused, for whom Mr. Bryce Hart appeared, pleaded not guilty. Mrs. Porter, a resident of Maungakiekie Avenue, Ono Tree Hill, stated that she intended to build a house and met Thom. She decided to purchase a leasehold section from the Dilworth Trust Board and at the end of September gave accused £lB 10s to pay the board as a deposit and tho first half-year's rent. He gave her a receipt. Later, as she had received no receipt from the board, witness asked Thom what he had done with the money and he said he had paid it into a trust account to remain there until arrangements regarding tho house were final.

Accused said ho had submitted sketch plans to Mrs. Porter and after she had selected one, he took ifc to an architect, who drew the plans, while witness drow the specifications. Ho agreed if he obtained the job to pay for the plans. Later ifc appeared that Mrs. Porter was going back on her word, so he held the money. Witness had put in a great deal of work on the plans, while he had taken Mrs. Porter to different offices to arrange finance. Chief-Detective Hammond produced a statement made by accused in which ho said that if Mrs. Porter instituted a prosecution he would take civil action.

"You could have sued herj complainant gave you the money for a specific purpose," said the magistrate, who recalled , Mrs. Porter. After she had stated that ahe had been unable to obtain the return of her money, he-passed sentence.