TRUST MONEY.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15113, 23 December 1921, Page 5

TRUST MONEY.

SOLICITOR'S DEFAULT. THE JUDGE'S REMARKS. (Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 22. When sentencing A. Cracknel!'on charges of theft involving over, £BOOO, Mr. Justice Stringer remarked on the absence of any explanation as to where the money went. Counsel v for accused said that Cracknell was very young when hi joined Hammond, whom he always addressed as Mr. Hammond. He dealt exclusively with certain ac counts, some of which concerned large speculations in land. Trust moneys in largo sums were paid ir. these speculations. Mr. Justice Stringer said there could, be no doubt that Cracknell had been systematically defrauding his clients. The only mitigatory circumstance was thaitt-h» was under the influence of a. man of more powerful character than his own, and did not have iihe moral courage to make a stand: He . could not overlook the fact that accused had carried on in precisely the same way as his partner. " He owed a duty to ;t(ho public to pass an exemplary sentence, and also to the profession to which he belonged. It was impossible for him to treat this as other than a case of a man who had systematically abused a position of trust. It had been repeatedly laid down that in cases of that sort the punishment should be substantial. The sentence would be three years.