WORKING THE WIRES

NZ Truth, Issue 749, 25 October 1919, Page 6

WORKING THE WIRES

A Telegraphist Taps Trouble Sutherland's Good. Character Stands to Him. (Prom "Truth's Auckland Rep/) <!,Sr i y °^ Ung man ' B °y d Stewart Sin* er i and 'M* tele sraphist, who had pleaded guilty to "monkeying" with a "No Reply" betting telegram, came before Mr. Justice Stringer for senotTsattd^.^f SUPrem ° C ° Urt Briefly, the circumstances were that the accused, a married man, had been" operating on a "No Reply" with a Christchurch bookmaker, and on the the CJT.C. Grand National meeting *£? S + l nt * wlre ' "Ten Rebekah." Wnen the telegram handed m reached accused who was working on the Christchurch wire, Sutherland knew that Gold Kip. had won the race, and m sending the wire, altered the name Rebekah to Gold Kip. He was charged with attempted fraud. When'

BROUGHT UP FOR SENTENCE on Saturday, ' Mr. A.- E. Skelton, for accused, said that whilst he recognised the offence was ofte to shake public confidence m a ihpsWWmportant' public service (th& .telegraph) he thought there were '■'• circumstances which justified him m asking that the provisions of the First Offenders'* Act be extended to the accused. During 14 years', service m the telegraph accused had an unblemished character as operator, but the offence* to which accused had pleaded guilty meant that he would lose his 'position and have to start life afresh. Though accused had been betting on horse races for years it was only sudden temptation to which he succumbed on this occasion. Though tempted on numerous occasions by people to alter telegTams, accused steadfastly refused. The Crown Solicitor (the Hon. J. A. Tole), pointed out that the seriousness of the charge was not that accused had gambled, but the fraudulent use of a very important public service provided by the State. His Honor said it was deplorable that a young man like accused should have brought himself to ruin In the manner he had. The insane passion for gambling, which he felt bound to say, was* facilitated by what he could not regard as other than a most pernicious use of the telegraph office for THE PURPOSE OF BETTING, was to be deplored. The report of the Probation Officer made It clear that accused was suffering from stress of circumstances to a certain extent, and the court was entitled .to decide that he had yielded to a sudden temptation. Breaches of trust In the postal services were regarded as serious, and very rightly too, and offenders were not usually granted probation. However, m view of the previous good character of accused/ and the favorable report of the Probation Officer, his Honor thought he could admit accused to probation. The period would be two years, and amongst the many conditions were that he keeps away from race-courses and pays £13, the costs of the prosecution.