OFFICER'S DOWNFALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20111, 2 April 1928, Page 2

OFFICER'S DOWNFALL

LIVING BEYOND MEANS UNDER ANOTHER NAME Living beyond Life means and taking more drink ‘vlian was good for him were -reasons a Ivanced by a detective for the downfall of an officer who had a splendid record in the war. Well known in the district as a captain in an Army Reserve unit and a partner in a long standing firm. Dennis Gill, 37, builder and contractor, was sentenced, at Doncaster Quarter Sessions, to six months’ imprisonment in the second division for fraudulently converting to his own use sums totalling £SI. Mr F. J. O. Coddington, prosecuting, stated that Gill was fficer i charge of the 106th West Riding Army Troops Co., R.E.. Supplementary Reserve Institute. That unit was under the command of Major Rhodes, who lived near York and found it convenient to put Gill, his second-in-command, in control of the institute at Doncaster. The canteen was run for the benefit of the men, and the actual working was entrusted to a steward. The latter handed various sums to Gill, who pocketed them. Last August accused disappeared from Doncaster, and the police had some difficulty in finding him. They eventually discovered him Jiving in London under the name of “Gray.’’ Prosecuting solicitor admitted that, by pleaded guilty, Gill had avoided the slightest suspicion being thrown upon any of his subordinates. Detective-Offie r .1. R. Jones revealed that Gill was married, with three children, but had not lived with his w fe since last August. Mr Frankland. defending, stated that Gill had a distinguished war record, and was absent from the line only when he was w<» ded. {Since the war he had been leu. to a very large extent in control of a Lig business. In 1925 he was approached by the military authorities, and was practically responsible for the work of forming a new Royal Engineers unit. He thereby incurred considerable expense, and the inevitable happened—his business suffered accordingly. There was no doubt that chiefly as a result of the considerable time he put into the organisation, his business trouble began. He was told in an airy way that there must be a canteen, an I that it must be opened in two days’ time. That Captain Gill did. The money he had taken from the till went almost entirely into his business Mr Frankland pleaded for the utmost leniency for Gill, who had a promise of a good post if he could take it in the immediate future. His drswings from the busiress had oi - - a • • ar. IkThe Recor that it was a very difficult and case. G: p..>ition • -