FARMER SENT TO PRISON

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1932, Page 9

FARMER SENT TO PRISON

SHEEP UNLAWFULLY SOLD. ASSETS OF MORTGAGEE. A Te Awamutu farmer, Herbert Stevenson, aged 37, appeared for sentence before Mr. Justice Herdman in the Hamilton Supreme Court on Monday in connection with two charges of disposing of sheep which had been subject to a bill of sale.

Stevenson said he was sorry for what he had done. The money had been used for living expenses. He did not drink or gamble, and for two months last winter his family went without butter and sugar. He was at present a bankrupt and was not in a . position to refund -the amount spent. His Honour said he was very sorry to see the prisoner in his present position. “You may be under the impression, like many other people, that -the obligation imposed by a contract is to be disregarded,” said His Honour. “Whatever we

have done, we have not yet gone the length of declaring that a mortgagor can help himself to a mortgagee’s assets.”

The probation officer had given prisoner a favourable report, added His Honour, but the case was a, serious one. By disposing of his mortgagee’s assets, he had committed a definite act of dishonesty. Prisoner was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.