LIFE OF PLEASURE

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19663, 24 August 1935, Page 14 (Supplement)

LIFE OF PLEASURE

Only 18 years of age and receiving first £l, and then £1 2s Gd per week, a young Leeds, (England) clerk bought and ran, four or five motor-cars, and regularly spent his week-ends at the seaside. How ’the lad, William Garner, of Malvern-road, Leeds, was able to do this was a mystery until an inspection of the cash-book belonging to the firm by whom he was employed solved the riddle. The sequei was that Garner, smartly dressed and well groomed, found him■self In the dock at Leeds Assizes, where he pleaded guilty to a series of cheque forgeries involving a sum of £365. ' All the offences were committed in fivo months. Passing sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment, Mr Justice Hiibcry commented on the skilful character of the forgeries, and remarked that Garner apparently stole Ihe money in order to pander to certain vanities.

Although it was his first conviction, added tile'judge, it was not ills first offence, for unknown to the firm, upon whom be had committed a wicked and deliberate series of crimes, lie had been dismissed from a previous .post for 'embezzling about £4O.

Mr Myles Archibald., prosecuting, explained I hat ■when Mr Max Pitt , a member of the linn of Northern Veneers, hid., accused Garner of dishonesty, lie at once admitted that lie had Pecn taking money. Asked who much he replied."" Oh. about £200.” Ordered, to lurii out his pockets, it was dis-

Amazing Crimes of Youth. Ran Five Motor Cars.

covered that lie had £22 10s in his possession. Willi the exception of this £22 10s, . declared counsel, the whole of the £365, the proceeds of forged cheques, had been spent in pleasure. How Cheques Were ForgOd. First of all Garner traced the name of Air Pitt in pencil on a cheque, then inked it in, and destroyed the counterfoil. As a result of these forgeries he lived for five months as if earning over £6OO a year. He purchased four or five motor-cars and went lo the seaside at week-ends. Two of the motor-cars were in the hands of the prosecutors, but their total value would not be more than £4O or £SO. Garner reading a statement from the dock, complained that the managing director of the firm went away and left blank cheques to he filled in for wages, and the temptation proved too much for him.

“Here wc have a boy aged 18,” lie went on, "who is left alone, with the accounts being checked only twice a year, and his salary only £l.”

A Congergalionai minister, Hie Rev. J. W. Dean, lo Icl (lie Court that Garner at one time attended his church. Recently lie seemed lo have developed “ big- ideas,” An official of the Y.M.C.A. explained that Garner belonged to that body, lie was a member of the Scout Rover crew, and prior to the present ’charge it was hoped that lie would obtain a Scoutmaster's warrant.