TEARS IN THE DOCK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21828, 15 December 1932, Page 18

TEARS IN THE DOCK

POLICEMAN’S LOST HONOUR EXEMPLARY RECORD BLASTED. “No case in which I have been concerned in the course of over 50 years at the Bar has given me more pain than has this case,” said Mr J. Suckling Pritchett, the recorder, at Lincoln Quarter Sessions on October 12, when sentencing John William Hill, for 18 years a member of the Lincoln City Police Force, to three months’ imprisonment in the second division for stealing 22s from a local garage. Hill was also charged with breaking and entering the garage by night and stealing the money, but to this he pleaded not guilty, and the charge was not proceeded with. He pleaded guilty to the charge of theft. Superintendent Cook said Hill was a married man with four children. He was 41 years of age, and enlisted in the Grenadier Guards in 1910. He joined the police force in 1913, but ip 1914 hi rejoined his regiment as sergeant, serving until January, 1919, when he returned to the police force. During his war service Mr Cook said Hill received the meritorious service medal and the 1914 Star. His character on discharge was exemplary. In six years’ time he would have been due to retire on a pension of £2 18s I Olid per week.

At this stage of the proceedings TTill was crying, and ho continued to do so while his (amused inside a speech for tin defence. “ This,” said counsel, "is the one criminal act that this man in Ids lifetime has committed. For a paltry 22s he has blasted a lifetime of honour and a record of glory, and that could only have been the result of some aberration of the mind, caused through duty over years of sickness due to excessive gas injury during the war. The recorder, in passing sentence, said: “ When Superintendent Cook told me of your honourable career in the army and in the police force 1 could not help hading greatly distressed. I cannot imagine why you did it. The consequences are terrible, apart from anything I may do. You have lost your position in (lie force. Yon have lost your good character. The future for you is as gloomy as it can possibly be.