AN OFFICER'S GUILT

Southland Times, Issue 17682, 15 March 1916, Page 3

AN OFFICER'S GUILT

«. PLEA FOR LENIENCY. SENTENCE DEFERRED TILL MAY. At the Supremo Court at Hamilton on Thursday, before Mr Justice Cooper, Cecil Lyttelton Hawkins, ex-staff officer in the New Zealand Forces, appeared for sentence on charges of forgery and misappropriation of the funds of the 3rd Auckland Regiment, of which he was adjutant prior to leaving for the front with the Main Expeditionary Force. Mr' .1. R. Heed, K.C., with him Mr E. H. Northcroft, appeared for accused. Mr Reed pleaded for leniency, and said that many mitigating existed. Accused, apart from the lapse concerned in tiie charges between August. 1013, and April, 1314, had borne an excellent character. At this time he was worried by domestic trouble, and was in a physically low state. It was his intention to repay the moneys, but the war broke out and he volunteered, leaving with the main body. The matter so preyed on his mind that ho became so bad mentally that he had to be sent back. Since then accused had occupied an important military position at Dunedin, handling large sums of money, and there was nothing to suggest lie was otherwise than honest. He had given every assistance in unravelling the present trouble. His preclusion from promotion was severe punishment. There had been no intention on accused's part to deprive the department of the money. Mr Reed asked that, if possible, accused be not sent to gaol. His Honour said he did not think he could do what counsel suggested until he had consulted with the other judges. Ho suggested that the prisoner be remanded on bail until after the sitting of the Court of Appeal, a,nd if the request were consistent with the administration of justice he would be glad to accede to it. Prisoner was therefore remanded to come up for sentence at Auckland on May 23. and was admitted to .-hail in his own surety of £2OO and one other in a similar amount.