LAPSE OF MEMORY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20649, 25 June 1935, Page 9

LAPSE OF MEMORY.

Man Left Home and Wandered Away. COXVICTED OF THEFT. The story of a man who left his home in Auckland to go on a week-end fishing trip, and finally found himself in Timaru, was told to Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M.. in the Magistrate’s Court this morning when John'Daintry Campbell Birch, described as a clerk, 37 years of age, of Monaghan Avenue, Auckland, was charged with obtaining sums of money totalling £l6 9s lid and failing to account for it or pay it to Muriel Wallace, thereby committing theft. Mr Amodeo appeared for the accused who pleaded guilty. After the evidence had been heard. Birch was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called on within 12 months and ordered to make restitution within 14 days. The complainant was a milk vendor, who in March last employed the accused on a milk round, said Chief-Detective Dunlop. One of his duties was to collect accounts. The accused went off on the complainant’s bicycle one day and failed to return. Later, the complainant discovered that he had collected £l6 9s lid. On June 17 the accused surrendered himself to the police. He was satisfied that the accused’s mental condition was not sound, added the chief-detective. Was Reported Missing. The accused was a married man, 37 years of age, said Mr Amodeo. He had left his. home to go on a weekr end fishing trip, but eventually reached Christchurch. During the time he was here he did not appear to have any recollection of his past history, arid did not remember about the good position he left in Auckland. He left Auckland in March, and his wife reported him to the police as missing. It was not until he reached Timaru that he came to himself. Mr Amodeo suggested that the whole thing was due to a lapse of memory and that probation might be granted. Restitution could be made. In passing sentence, the Magistrate said they had to do all they could to help in such cases.