A CAMBRIDGE BANK CLERK ABSCONDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 145, 20 June 1888, Page 5

A CAMBRIDGE BANK CLERK ABSCONDS.

A great sensation was caused in Cambridge on Saturday evening (says bhe "Waikabo Times") when ib became known bhab Mr Edmond Porber, the accountant at the Colonial Bank, was missing, and bhab bhe travelling inspectors were examining the books. Later on it also became known thab a warranb for his arresb had been issued in which he was charged with embezzling aboub £100. We learn that the books have been falsified in a most clever manner, which rendered ib exbremely diihculb for bhe local manager to debecb, and if the inspectors had not arrived upon the scene, the fraud would probably have been continued for some time. Mr Porber has made himself extremely popular in Cambridge, and has always been to the fore in cricket, football, tennis, and in getting up dances, and many express their regret bhat he did nob apply bo his friends bo help him instead of decamping. The inspectors only arrived in town on Friday evening. They went straighb bo bhe bank and counted the cash, which was found correct. Porter was working wibh bhem till nearly 10 p.m., and up to that time nobbing wrong was found. Being aware thab bhe comparing of the ledger and the balance-book would take place nexb morning, he must have made up his mind to decamp. He went home, where he had been bachelorising wibh Messrs. Ansenne and Harbly, and sbayed bhe nighb. As usual next morning he wenb bo the bank ab 9 o'clock, aud jusb before 10 he asked bhe manager if he could go and tell the "football fellows " that he would be unable to play in the Ohaupo match. Having received permission he wenb home, got upon his horse aud rode off, and did not again go near the bank. Hearing bhab Mr Porter was not ab his work, Mr Hartly called to say he was nob ab home, and was asked bo look if he had lefb his keys in his own room_ W 7hile searching for bhem he found bwo cheques dated the 1 _th inst. and two deposit slips which clearly showed something was wrong. He afterwards found a letter addressed to himself, in which Mr Porter said he was wrong ab the bank, and that sooner than stay to disgrace his family and his* -wife, he intended committing suicide. He also asked the recipient to forward his box to his wife, and nob tell anyone about ib. There had been several rumours in Cambridge thab he was a married man, bub ib has nob been definitely known until the present time. The letter was, of course, delivered up to the police, as was also the box. The horse Porter rode away upon is the well-known Whakabane, lately owned by Mr Cussen. On Sunday several persons were out searching for his body, as ib was bhoughb probable he had commibted bhe rash acb he threatened, bub wdbhoub success. He was traced bo Cambridge Wesbandbhenevidentlyiutended crossing the Waikabo ab bhe Horohora bridge, as ab 12 o'clock he losb himself in the Maungatautari bush, having followed a cabbie brack when he met a native who pub him on tho right road again. It is alleged thab bhe fraud has been going on since November 18bh, when a sum of £30 was short, and since that time small sums are missing until the total reached £100. His wife is living ab Napier and his fabher resides in Wellingbon.