GAMBLING HELLS HIS RUIN

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 356, 13 September 1933, Page 8

GAMBLING HELLS HIS RUIN

o Baron Steals From Petrol Firm CONFESSES AND OFFERS TO COMMIT SUICIDE Capetown, July 30A remarkable statement was made today by Baron Hans Henrich von Maltzahn, a young German nobleman, when be pleaded guilty at Lady smith before Major C. L. It- Harries, Li, ibc theft of £64 from the Arop Petrol Company, of which he was formerly an employee.

Von Maltzahn said he deeply regretted his defalcations. He had attempted suicide on two occasions. He attributed his theft to the gambling clubs in Johannesburg! which he had frequented. Ho was quite prepared, he said, to accept the sentence of the court. The consolation of his trouble was that it had restored him, to God and religion. When the preparatory examination was opened, the Crown alleged that, while Ladvsmith branch manager of the Arop, Ltd., Von Maltzahn converted to his own use certain moneys paid by customers. Further, it was alleged that Arop, Ltd., paid him £llO for a motor car, and that instead of paying for the car he converted the money to his own use. Charge Dropped Alfred Flett, secretary of Arop, Ltd., said that Von Maltzahn in April last called at the Johannesburg office to confess to certain defalcations. The confession was absolutely voluntary, and no inducement was held out. Von Maltzahn mentioned various amounts paid in by customers, and also £l7 petty cash. He also said he had not paid out the £llO sent him for a motor car.

A signed confession completed before a Durban solicitor was put in by the Crown. The magistrate here drew attention to the charge relating to the money for 1 the car. The car had originally been bought by Von Maltzahn, said the magistrate, on promissory notes without any hire purchase agreement, and then sold by Von Maltzahn to Arop. While his action might have been reprehensible, there were certainly no grounds for the charge.

Th prosecutor agreed, (and said he would call no further'evidence on this count.

After the reading of the indictment, Von'Maltzdhn asked the magistrate to commit him for sentence. He would plead guilty.

Proceeding to make a statement Von Maltzahn said he took £23 paid by a customer to pay the licence and insurance of a motor car, with the intention of repaying the money to the,company.

“In March, 1933, I went up to Johannesburg and frequented gambling clubs, and lost my own money and certain amounts banked in my private banking account for Arop,” he proceeded. “After discovering that I had stolen and defrauded the company of the money, I wrote to the Durban branch manager of Arop giving all details of the defalcations and telling ;him I was willing 'to commit suicide.

“Through some circumstances this was avoided, and 1 proceeded to Durban to see the branch manager. On April 5 I made the statement produced in court, by my own free will, and went to Johannesburg to see ’ the secretary and directors of Arop.

Alleged Suicide Attempt The secretary asked me if I gould pay £lO a month towards refunding the money, and said that if so, no charge would be made against me. I was not able to give a guarantee for this amount, and was informed by the secretary that definite steps would be taken against me.

“I tried again to raise the money with the assistance of the German Consulate, but the result was that throygh the interference of the Consulate, I was cut off from all communication with my relations and friends in Germany.

“In the meantime I fell sick, and the medical diagnosis was active tuberculosis, and having this other matter on my mind I had a nervous breakdown and made aryother attempt at suicide. “I lost interest in everything until 1 heard that friends and people 1 knew had turned from me and didn’t want to have anything to do with mo. Then 1 started working again, just to show other people that I wasn’t going to sink right down. “1 now admit and plead guilty. I personally feel ashamed that, coming from a good famil w, yta hi gScfik from a good family, with a good education, I could sink so far; but today I declare that I ami glad'TSout it, as, through losing everything, ! have found my way back to God and religion.” He was willing to make restitution.” Von Maltzahn was released on his own, recognisances pending being summoned to appear for sentence.