THEFT OF £7,500.

Wairarapa Age, 7 July 1936, Page 5

THEFT OF £7,500.

BANK TELLER SENTENCED. SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT. AUCKLAND, July 6. Having pleaded guilty to the theft of £7,500 from the Bank of New Zealand at Mangaweka, Maurice Edward Alexander, a bank teller, aged 32, appeared before Mr. Justice Callan for sentence. Mr. Bainbridge made a strong plea for leniency on behalf of prisoner. He said the money had never been circulated. The numbers were held at the bank at Mangaweka and if Alexander had put any of the notes into circulation it would have been known very quickly, as soon as the first of the series was paid into any bank. It was the act of a blind and unreasonable impulse, resulting in the taking of a parcel of worthless currency. Alexander had, by his act, blighted his whole life. Mr. Justice Callan said the offence was the theft of a very large sum of money by a bank official, a person in whom a great degree of trust was placed. It was impossible to take a light view of this kind of offence. If it was recognised that society was to be held together, then certain persons had to be trusted. “It seems to me,” said his Honour, “it was a foolish and futile act but in view of the fact that he was a trusted servant and that he abused that trust I cannot grant probation. However, I will make the term short. The sentence will be six months’ imprisonment with hard labour.”—(P.A.)