MONEY FOR SICK WIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20594, 19 June 1930, Page 14

MONEY FOR SICK WIFE.

PUBLIC SERVANT'S THEFT.

COURT'S SYMPATHETIC VIEW.

OFFENCES UNDER GREAT STRESS

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday.

A distressing caso of a man who had embezzled money to pay tho medical expenses for his wife while ho was a servant of tho Department of Justice at Ractihi was heard beforo the Chief Jus tice, Sir Michael Myers, in the Supremo Court at Wellington to-day. Accused was James Edwin Laing, and he appeared for sentenco on two charges of theft as a servant.

In convicting Laing and ordering him to como up for sentenco if called upon. Ilis Honor said tho offences had boon committed under great stress.

Mr. E. P. Hay, for accused, said it was fully recognised that tho offencos wero vety serious, more so as Laing was a public servant, and, furthermore, a servant of the Department of Justice. He had been tho solo officer of the Court offico, where ho was stationed. Restitution of the stolen money had been made Laing had not lived extravagantly witl. the money. It had been spent on his wife.

His Honor: The condition of his wifo'p health must havo been a sort of night mare to him, and sufficient almost to drive anyone into insanity. Counsel thanked His Honor for the observation and said that during tho past four and a-half years Mrs. Laing had undergone six or seven serious operations. Unfortunately her 'health was still poor. Connsel submitted that in the circumstances it would be a great hardship if the wife wero deprived of her husband's society. His Honor said that after having given very careful consideration to tho case, and to the particulars on record before him, ho had come to tho conclusion that tho Court should not impose a sentence of imprisonment, but should either grant probation or, as he proposed to do, order accused to come up for sentence if and when called upon. The probation officer had reported that accused was entirely free from tho usual vices which accompanied offences of the nature to which Laing had pleaded guilty. Tho state of his wife's health must have driven accused almost insane, amj certainly it had driven him to commit tho offences.

Although a breach of trust was a serious matter, said His Honor, he thought tho interests of society would not suffer and tho interests of justice would bo served, particularly as restitution had been made, if Laing was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon at any time within 12 months. His Honor added that ho did not think it necessary to give accused a warning.