THE GILLESPIE CASE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14219, 17 February 1914, Page 7

THE GILLESPIE CASE.

A UNIQUE STATE OF AFFAIRS DISCLOSED. CHIEF JUSTICE’S STATEMENTS. IN PASSING SENTENCE OF TWO YEARS. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, February 17. Oliver Noel Gillespie, a solicitor who was committed from Palmerston North on seven cuarges of the theft of trust moneys, came up for sentence before the Chief Justice to-day. Arthur Clark, of the firm of Clark and Meiizies, auditors, gave evidence that Ins firm had been investigating the accused’s business affairs. The position was that there might be a surplus in the trust account. Ollier securities had been discovered which did not affect the trust account, and these would realise a fairly large sum. Accused had lent out trust money without any security and in some eases without interest. 'Hie deficiency in the trust account was practically nil. His Honor; Is there any chance of the people who gave the trust moneys to bim getting repaid ? Witness: Very considerable. His Honor: Will they get paid in full 7 Witness; It all depends on how the estntfi is realised.

In reply to other questions witness did not think the accused had spent more than he had actually earned. He would not like to say that the people who gave him trust moneys would get 20s in the £. They would get a very considerable sum, anything from 15s upwards.

His Honor said the prisoner’s ease was unique, as he had not "oenefitted by the money. The whole business .seemed to have been beyond Gillespie’s management or control, and he appeared to have kept his books in a great muddle. At the same time the prisoner' knew the law. and that he had no right to divert trust moneys from their legitimate channels. The Chief Justice added that he did not propose to pass a havy sentence. Gillespie had come hack voluntarily to New Zealand, and bv his assistance a considerable sum of money had been recovered. He would be sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour.