HERO TURNS TO CRIME.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17411, 25 May 1928, Page 8

HERO TURNS TO CRIME.

SWINDLING CAMPAIGN. OF A RICH MAN’S SON. Son of wealthy parents and the winner of the Military Cross during the war, Arthur Lawrence Kershaw, a young law student, heard the pitiful 4ory of his downfall recited in the Court of Criminal Appeal. He was appealing against sentence of five years’ penal servitude passed at Manchester Assizes for conspiracy and false pretences. Mr Gorst, who appeared for Kershaw, urged the Court to reduce the sentence, especially considering that this was his first offence. He had an excellent character until 1927. After he left the Army he was., engaged .in commerce, and earned quite a good income. Then his father persuaded him to study for law, and he became a student with an allowance from his father, who was a well-to-do man. Differences, however, drove father and son apart, and it was then that the youth’s downfall began. He got into trouble with certain cheques amounting to £4OO, some of which, however, he had redeemed. Serving in the R.G.A. during the war as a secondlieutenant, he was given the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry. His record in despatches related that he was wounded in both legs, yet refused to leave his battery and continued with his duty. He was wounded on another occasion and also gassed. This was a case, observed counsel, in which lenient treatment would bear good fruit. . The Lord Chief Justice observed that appellant and another man put their heads together and induced various persons to part with their money upon false pretences, and by means of worthless cheques presented in accordance with an ingenious scheme.. Further than that, Kershaw had been! miiltv of graver acts. He had obtained possession of title deeds of certain property from the office of the. solicitor whe had employed him as an articled clerk Then he forged a conveyance to himself of the property, and with it obtained money from a bank, in addition, 22 cases of obtaining money bv worthless cheques were proved against him. The sentence was severe, as it was intended to be, and the Coin L would not interfere with it. The appeal was, therefore, dismissed.