DISHONEST CANVASSER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11177, 5 April 1922, Page 5

DISHONEST CANVASSER

SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT. “A BREACH OF TRUST.” A young man named Joseph Calixtus Develin was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a quantity of socks, shirts and flannels, of a- total value of £3 8s 3d, the .property of John D. Herbert Dal riel. diief-Deteotive Kemp stated that the young man had been given the goods to sell on commission, but instead of disposing of them rightfully had misappropriated tho money. He had several previous convictions. The accused had received a good education, but unfortunately had done no good with it. , He had been arrested on Monday night' by Detective Re veil.. A strong plea for leniency was made by counsel for the accused. Mr J. Scott, who said that although tlie matter was difficult of explanation, he sincerely felt that if he were ordered to come up for sentence when called upon the effect would be satisfactory. Mr Stott said lie knesv personally that since his last appearance before the court the young man had made an effort to pull himself together. Tlie accused was not by any means in good health, and being out of employment, found it extremely difficult to find a means of earning a livelihood.

Tlie magistrate spoke of the fact that the accused had been previously arraigned on no fewer than eight charges of theft.

“Apparently,” said His Worship, “tlie man. was working at an occupation which suited his physical constitution. . . , it was a position of trust whibh lie failed to keep. . . . My idea is .to keep him away.”