ELDERLY MAN'S LAPSE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLV, Issue 10450, 1 December 1919, Page 9

ELDERLY MAN'S LAPSE

THEFT FROM DRAPERY STORE. HITHERTO RELIABLE SERVANT. Two prisoners who hud pleaded guilty in the lower court appeared fpi: sentence before His Honour,tho Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) in the Supremo Court on Saturday morning. George Parker MoDougall, an elder!) man, formerly in the employ of George and George, pleaded guiUy to charges of tueft from the firm of articles to the vaiuo of £55 ds 6d. Messrs T. Forsyth, of Ta Ato House, and A. Corrigan, formerly „of the U.1.C., at which establishments the prisoner had been employed, gave evidence as to his reliability as a servant. His Honour remarked that cause of the offence appeared to bo drink. Mr H. F. O’Leary, who appeared for the prisoner, said that it was unfortunate that the accused’ (who was 60 years of ago and a married man with' a farm ily, and who hud never before appeared before the court) should at such a la.-e stage of his life no arraigned on such a charge. Counsel pleaded for leniency, and suggested that instead of being sent to gaoi prisoner should bo dealt with less summonly. The prisoner had stated that his crime was attributable not so much to drink us to temptation. Ho was allowed to purchase goods iron* the firm, for his own use at 10 per cent, above cost price. Ho realised that he could himself make profits out of the opportunity offered him, and after a time sold the goods without entering them up. The value of the stolen articles had been made good, and there was no actual loss to the firm. His Honour said ho believed tho prisoner’s lapse was duo to drink. In con sideration of his ago and in view of tho number of years ho had borne a good character, ho would be given a chance. Prisoner was admitted to probation for a period of three years and was forbidden to take alcoholic liquor. His Honour intimated that ho would he liable to bo called before the court again at any time if ho did not conduct himself satisfactorily. Jacob Powoli Doan, who appeared for sentence on charges of breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime, was remanded until to-morrow morning in order that further facta might be ascertained concerning b.’tn.