Addressing the Court on behalf of accused, Mr. Newman said that before entering the service of Messrs. Weeks & Ca., he was employed by another Shanghai firm, the manager of which was present and prepared to give him an excellent character. The defalcations began in a way which was not unknown, viz, by accused keeping money and regarding ib as a debt to be repaid. The periods of repayment extended, and _eventually accused found himself unable to pay, and the defalcations were found out. The largest sum was taken to pay the expense of his father's! funeral, and, in the hope of being able to repay this, accused went to, Kiangwan races and lost even more of the firm's money. He had a wife and child to support, and he got deeper into the mire. When the defalcations were discovered, accused confessed at onca and offered to explain exactly what moneys he was short of, but he was excused after the first day's investigation. He went so far as to obtain promissory notes to cover the losses, but his offer of restitution was not accepted, and consequently none was made. He was told that proceedings would be taken, and awaited the event, keeping in communication with prosecutor's solicitors for three days. Unfortunately, was unwisely persuaded by friends to leave Shanghai and endeavour to obtain employment elsewhere, and they financed him in this purpose. He went to Tientsin and worked satisfactorily with a firm there, but the Shanghai affair preyed on his mind and he returned and surrendered to the police. In the circumstances, Mr. Newman sug. gested it might be possible for his Honour to deal with accused under the First Offender's Act.
Mr. R. Calder Marshall, managing -director of Messrs. Wolder, Marshall & Ca., spoke as to accused having been in the firm's employ for three years, during which time he was industrious, honest and reliable.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.