APPEAL FOR CRIPPLES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 53, 4 March 1939, Page 9

APPEAL FOR CRIPPLES

SALESMAN PUTS MONEY TO HIS OWN USE BONA FIDES OF SOCIETY I Per Pres. Association. I WELLINGTON, March 3. Alexander Strachan Hart, aged 43, salesman, was dealt with by Mr, J. H. Luxford, S.M., on charges of the theft of ten books of tickets for incurable cripples benefit in Auckland, failing to account for £3 and for being a rogue and vagabond in that he collected subscriptions under false pretences. He pleaded not guilty to each charge and was convicted and sentenced to nine months’ hard labour on one and was convicted and discharged on the others. Accused was cngagecl by Rowland Reeves in Auckland as an agent to sell tickets in the North Island. He sold ten books supplied him and of the £5 proceeds was entitled to £2 commission, which left £3 he should have accounted for. When found by the police he had the butts of ten books stolen from Reeves in Wellington, and also the butts of ten other books. It was stated that he procured a number of receipt books and with the aid of these went round the whole of the Wellington district and in this way collected £l7, all of which he admitted he put to his own use. The magistrate inquired if the bona tides of the Auckland society had been established. The reply was that the Auckland police were satisfied that everything was in order, but it would appear that there was a breach of the Gaming Act. The money had been accounted for.