A THOROUGH SCOUNDREL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3783, 14 September 1926, Page 35

A THOROUGH SCOUNDREL.

PERSISTENCE IN CRIME. AUCKLAND, September 10. ‘Tie is addicted to drink and is unfaithful to his wife, lie has been wurned. advised and assisted on many occasions by hi 3 friends, but he has persisted in his apparently accented mode of living.” i'his statement was made by the Probation Officer (Mr W. J. Campbell) in the Police Court in reporting ou the conduct of Alexander James Binnie on Thursday. Binnie had pleaded guilty to .fraudulently omitting to pay to Harry Craven £7 entrusted to him by J. Lindsav. and guilty to obtaining from Irene Mickle, of Putaruru, with intent to defraud, £5 15s 6d in cash, and cigarettes valued at 43 6d by issuing a valueless cheque for £6 on the Bank of New Zealand at Auckland. The caso had been adjourned pending the probation officer's report. The report stated accused was a married man. aged 33 vears. with three children—one buv and two girls, ile had had u previous conviction for theft in Rotorua on July 10 last, being ordered to come up tor sentence when called upon. While employed as manager of the Hamilton branch of a clothing firm he. had embezzled over £3OO. He had been insmisseU, but apparently no action had been taken as accused had promised to refund the stolen money. This he had failed to do. Last January accused had been living with his wife in Putaruru, but he left her, and as a result of his failure to refund the money it was understood the furniture of the house was sold, and Mrs Binnie and her children were left destitute. They were brought to Auckland by Mrs Binnie'? sister, who kept them for some time. At present the bov, aged five, was staying with Mrs Binnie’s sister, while Mrs Binnie with the othbr two children was at St. Mary’s home. Otahuhu, where she was employed. Accused had failed to maintain hie wife and children. ’‘Probation cannot be recommended,” Mr Campbell said. “I am of the opinion that a three years’ term of reformative detention would be in his best interests, causing, as such a sentence would, a break in accused’s undesirable associations.”

The Magistrate, to accused: The report about you is about ax bad as it could be against uny man. You deserted your wife, ran off with another woman, and seduced a third. You lobbed your employers of £3OO. Obviously, probation is out of the question. You will be sentenced to three years’ reformative detention, and it will depend on you when you will be discharged. The authorities of St. Mary’s Home asked for maintenance of tin two children and the magistrate ordered 10s for each chikl to be paid in addition to £27 back maintenance. It was also requested that a separation and maintenance order should be made for the wife.

The Magistrate: Well, she Ims got a separation order for three years already. A maintenance order for 10s a week was issued.