The former treasurer of the St. George's Historical Society was sentenced to nine months in prison yesterday for stealing more than $32,141 from the charity over a nine-year period.

Anthony Victor Payne, 55, had previously pleaded guilty to the crime, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail.

He was said by his lawyer, Mr. Robin McMillian, to have "foolishly appropriated the funds from the Society'' after "living beyond his means.'' Court also heard that Payne, of Floral Lane in St. George's, is an alcoholic who has been receiving rehabilitative treatment for the past month.

The offence occurred between July of 1984 and October of 1993.

Before the punishment was handed down, Crown Counsel Mr. Philip Storr had argued for a mandatory custodial sentence from Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr.

Justice Meerabux.

Mr. McMillan, however, had asked the judge to suspend any jail time on the grounds that Payne had pleaded guilty to the offence, had had no previous convictions and was willing to repay the money.

The defence lawyer also said that Payne was "remorseful'' over the crime and "embarrassed'' by his actions.

Mr. Meerabux, however, said that embarrassment was not enough to "deflect the court's attention from the gravity of the crime.'' "You were in a position of trust,'' the judge told Payne. "Persons in a position of trust are usually relied on to fulfill their duties with honesty.

You betrayed that trust.'' Payne, who appeared shaken by the sentence, was the treasurer of the Society for 31 years.

As an employee of the Bank of Bermuda, he also approved a number of the loans to the charity that were ultimately embezzled.