YOUNG IN YEARS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3655, 16 October 1912, Page 3

YOUNG IN YEARS.

BUT ADVANCED IN CRIME

A YOUTH’S BLACK CAREER

Twenty-one years of age and a stripling- of a lad with the appearance of one much younger, Ray Allan Edmis-

ton, alias Arthur Leonard Johnston, alias Cameron, appeared before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., yesterday on two serious charges: * First, lie. was charged with the indictable offence ei forging, on or about October V, a document purporting to he an order drawn by W. H. Russen in favor of R. A. Kdmiston, on Messrs Murray Roberts and Co., Ltd., Gisborne, for payment of the stun of £l3, and that ho did utter the same to William Edward Glover. rVY. A. Russell, slieepfarmer, of Mangatuna, said ho employed accused as a cadet on his station on August 8, accused stating that he would work for nothing until witness eoukl ascertain what lie was worth. Accused lived in a wliaro and had his meals in the house. On October 6, witness and his family left the house for a tirno and accused was sitting reading on the verandah when they left. About an hour and a-half later ho returned and saw accused. On Monday, October 7, accused rode away on one of witness’s horses and at 5.30 p.m. telephoned that ho had bought a dog and would have to wait in town until lie got money from Auckland. Accused asked if it would do if the horse was returned late, at night or early next morning, and witness said it had better be brought back that night. Next morning witness had to come to town and get the horse himself. He transacted all his business by orders on Murray, Roberts and Co. Ho kept the book of orders cither on bis desk or in his bedroom. On Tuesday. October 8,1 - found that one order form had been completely torn out. From the Saturday night, the order hook had been on bis dressing table. On making the discovery, he rang up Murray, Roberts and Co., telling them that the missing form did not bear his signature. The signature on the order produced was not his, but it was an excellent imitation.—

William Edward Glover, mercer, said that on October 9, accused came to liis shop between 19 and 11 a.m. and bought a quantity of goods, to the value of over £7. Accused paid witness with an order on Murray, Roberts .and Co., and received £6 in change. Murray, Roberts and Co. refused the order, and witness informed the police. Detective Mitchell said that at 8.30 n.m. on October 13 he arrested aceus- < d on the present charge, accused saying, “I will plead guilty.” ihe articles of clothes mentioned were in accused’s possession as well as £1 — s 7d and a return saloon ticket from Gisborne to Napier. AY it ness got a refund of 19s on the boat fare, making the total money in his possession now £2 9s 7d.

pleaded guilty, and wajs committed to the Supreme. Court at Auckland for sentence. To a further charge of having stolen one sovereign, the property of William Arthur Russell, accused pleaded guilty. Hi's Worship enquired as to what was known of accused. Detective Mitchell, who prosecuted, said that, on October 28, 1910, accused was convicted at Thames on nine charges of theft, and sentenced as follows: Two months each on two charges; 14 days’ each on five chargee ; one month each on two charges. Since his discharge from gaol, accused had travelled a good deal about the country and had admitted to the detective that while in Wellington lie stole £3 from the boarding-house he staved at; at Napier lie stole £2, and at Hastings £l. At the hoard-ing-house accused stayed at in Gisborne, the boarders lost several sums of money.

‘•lt is,” said his Worship, an addressing accused, “very sad indeed to see a person of your age with, such a dishonest career. There is no need for such crime in a country like this. Take my advice, young man. and stop before it is too late. I must sentence you on this charge. You will bo sentenced to imprisonment in Auckland gaol for two calendar months.”

Accused, who ha<l answered the necessary questions in an undertone, stepped from the dock with his head bowed and buried his face in his hands as he took a seat at the rear of the 'Court.