LAPSE OF A CONSTABLE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1927, Page 5

LAPSE OF A CONSTABLE

GUILTY OF THEFT AND FRAUD. ILL-HEALTH SAID TO BE CAUSE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Oct. 17. Edwym Laurence Yargreaves, formerly district constable at Mangawai, pleaded guilty in the Police Court to a charge of stealing £22 7s 'Gd, the property' of the Otamatea County Council (fees for dog collars), and obtaining £93 from three persons by valueless cheques; further, that 'being a member of tlie’Now Zealand Police Force, he deserted his post at, Mangawai on. July 27. It was stated in mitigation that the accused, who had a long period ol active service and suffered from shellshock, was so affected by the gruesome sight when a man had blown his head off at Kaiwhaka that he could not sleep. He took to drink and issuing valueless cheques while in a muddled state. He met another man in the city and went to Sydney with him, but later returned to Auckland and gav.j himself up to the police. Chief-Detective Cummings stated that during the earlier period of his service the accused had been quite satisfactory. Full restitution had been .made. Sentence was deferred for a report by the probation officer.