THE DEFAULTER CHARTERS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2740, 4 January 1882, Page 2

THE DEFAULTER CHARTERS.

. . , ■. .- - . 'r 'W. W. Charters, who absconded from -Sydenham, and' wab arrested in England for embezzling the moneys of the Sydenham Building Society;, and other charges, was yesterday convicted at the Supreme Court,-Christchurch,pu charges of. embezzlement,and .forgery, and sentenced to! eight, years penal servitude. When asked if he had anything to say in mitigation of sentence he said All that I have to say, yonr Honor,with regard to charge of forgery, is that I must.bow the decision of the jury. With regard to the embezzle-* ment of tbe. money of the Bnilding Society, I think, X hare proved to , the Directors that though other sums were'charged against me, 1 they 5 had no right to be so charged. At'the same time my partner, Mr -Draper, is dead and gone, and I do not wish to say anything against him. T Had he been alive I should not have been here alone to stand the bruntof all this. I have ,a wife and fine,young family, -and I am a young man only 26 yeats I throw myself on the clemency of the Court. As to my endeavor to escape I am glad- that I was caught, as 1 shall be only too glad to have the whole thing settled. Sentence was then passed. In consequence of what Charters had said at the Police Court it was anticipated by many that he would make some disclosure affecting the position of others, but these expectations were" hot realised.