A Series of Serious Charges.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 200, 26 August 1886, Page 4

A Series of Serious Charges.

The following additional evidence was taken in this cisc yesterday afternoon bubsequentto our going to press — Gaorgo Patrick Hogan, master of the Kohlmarama Indus-trial School, dorosed that Messrs Casey and Lovett had a contract from Janua-y to D?con>berto supply the instltmion with fuel. Their price was 21s Od per ton delivered. Thoy also supplied coal at IDs 6d per ton to the branch institute in Kent-street, Surrey Hills. Aft'r the first di-llviry on tho sth January wi'neßS complaim d to Messrs Casey and Dovett that no tickets accompanied the loads of coal Tho lotter was written on the 21st January, and asked to be provided for each load in the future. Tho followlug cay two loads of coal came accompanied by a not) to the effect that there was no necessity to welsh the coal a* there was 6 tonß In the railway truck, and they got the whole of it. Subsequently ho received weighbridge tickets with every load of coal that came Witness producod the weighbridge tickets, which were initialled and said ho had ascertained at Messrs Hammond _nd Carponter's that those tiokets wero genuine On the 29th of Jul? two loadsof ro d wo?e delivered accompanied by weighbridge tiokets showing i ton tiewt lcr of coal. Witness was not satistl d as to tbe freight, as Mr C'ißey had told him that he would send two sta l.loids,as tho roids wero bad. Witness oonla judgoby tho bulkof coal in tho shed that It did not correspond with tho quantity ropresented on the t'eket. On the 3rd A_gnct witfiess came to town, bringing with him the tlckots. Ho suopectnd that tho tickets wore not right, as one hs.daholoin it. as If it had boon on a file, and tho date hrd been altered. Witnosß met Mr Casey and said, *' You novor sent modown tton 6owt of coal loft Thursday. Ho ropliod, *Have younotgot tho weigh bldge tickets!" Witness answered -'Yes." Casey said, ''Then if the coal has not hem weighed properly, it's ro fault of mino." Witness tr en wont to tho Wiighbridg i olllco at tho UK akwator, where ho saw Mr Hinton. Did not show him thetlokots. Mr Hiutou examined a bcok similar to tha one produoi d. Witoe-s next went to Casoy's ofilce, and told Casey that Hammond's man told him that the coal had not been weighoi there on tho 2»th January. Case. B'ild, "Prrhii. s it was weighed at Nownmikctonthe wuy out." Witness thoi ghtthat a reasonable explanation. VVitnaP. reiurmd'o the weighbridfo eilico with Mr Haase.- On the way thty met Mr Oas; y. : Mr lliaso said to Mr Casey "It was a queer thing (.bout tho ticket j." Mr Casey np lori, " Well, tlio fact of the matter jh this, my clerk took the tio'-ieis nut of your book, and filled them upinmy oiliee." Casey then said to witness, " Hut the coal was all weighed in sacks on our small scales. 1 will call ihe clerk, aud he will tell you the b .me." v r Casey then wont to hi. oiliee. Win.c s and Mr Hmn then wont to M~o weig^ilnirlgo offlce. Soon afterward] Messrs Cam.y md Shoit chiub in. Carey said, " Tell himhow it happened." Short then said. "I took the tickets out of tho bo.ik, and filled them up at ihe ofll c " alio t took ihe biok and showed where he I- ad taken tho tick ( ts f.om. Wttrots compared the tick, t' with the book, and found that thoy corrofpo. ded exactly. Witness f.sked Short. How he found out all the welglra and Bind something about it h~in>; forgory. Hint, n told Short that he musi!have taken iho boi.k when ho was out C-iscy said, •' You took the book to get the weight out." Short ro pouted thrso words. In fact, all through Mr i 'as*?! mado the suggestion and Short re-*chood whit he.aid. When tho ace tint came in, tho w< ighr of I he coal was repres.' ned at 2cwt less. Tiib amount represented tho ;o t of 3 tons loewt lqr at contract price.

Huury Haaso deposed that he was clerk to Hammond and Carpenter, Fort-street, ana remorubored the last witness calling on August 3, and proceeded along with him to Ca3"y and Lovett's oflleo. Ho ask. d Casey, " What about these tickets i" He replied, "I don't know; wo will go to tho ofilco. and my young man will explain all." Shot said, "'lhe coal was in bags, and I weighed each bag over the seal s. totted uo the several weights, and put the totals on tho ticket." Witness taid, " Where did you get tho tickets from!" and ho rop'i d, - I took ihnm out of tbe hook.'- Beto'd him that tho hot k belonged to tho firm, nnd ho had no right whatever to ;.ouoh it. In reference to th . initials on the ticket, ShOt said ho hnd ! written them himself and they were his. Witness could only rind one ticket to corresrond.and Short t_ok tho book and found tho other. He h d made a calculation of the average weights ot the 12 loadi which rased over the bldgo. Ho found that for tickets issued by tho firm tho Average was 1 ten llcwt 2qr zGIb, and for tickets not issued by the Arm 2 tons 2ov»t Oqr 531b, showing a difference ot nearly 9_cwt. To Mr Cooper: He had on'y taken tho loads which went to the publlo institutions.—Tho furthor healng of tho case was then adjourned until Tuesday next.