ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 177, 28 July 1893, Page 4

ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT.

TUE MONEY REFUNDED,

THE CHARGE WITHDRAWN,

Frank Ryder Davies, a respectablydressed young man, appeared at the Police Courb this morning, before MessrE Louis Ehrenfried and W.~l)iunison, justices. The accused was charged with having on the 19th of July, at Auckland, when in the employ of the Mutunl Assurance Society of Victoria, taken £125, the monies of the said Society, with intonb to fraudelently embezzle tlio same.

Mr S. Hosketh appeared for the proaecu tion.

Mr F. Earl appeared for the accused He said that this was a private prosecution He wished to emphasise the facb that the information was not laid by the police, but by the Mutual Assurance Society of Victoria. The warrant was handed to the puiice, and executed with commendable promptness. Since the charge was laid, and tho arrest made, tho prosecuting Company had, with the assistance of the relatives of the accused, made a full and complete investigation of tho circumstances surrounding the case. Although tho act of the accused was highly culpable, and a highly dangerous one to himself, i& was moro the result of a highly eccentric mind rather than of criminal intent. He would review the circumstances. It seemed that all those who had been brought into contact with the boy—for ho was but a boy—had regarded him as pronouncedly eccentric. His character certainly up to tho present time had been nioso exemplary. .Recently, however, ho began to act in a moat extraordicary and eccentric manner. For no reason whatever, about a week before thiseilly act, the accused left his mother's house and went to live at an hotel. There, for tho first time in his life he became introduced to strong liquors. The result of those strong, liquors upon an abnormally weak brain,; was tiie development of a species of insanity. He began to act in a most extraordinary way, and ultimately left for Gisborno with certain money belonging to thß Company in his pocket. Hi?a actions even sfnee his arrest has bean anything but what one might expect^ from a person in a normal state of mind. There appeared to have baeu no reason for what ho did. He was not in want of money. He had been living with his mother at Mounb Eden, and had a comfortable home and had no expenses. Within a year ho would become possessed of a considerable sum of money. There was, therefore, no inducement for him to commit this offence. His mode of leaving was also without reason. Had ho wunted to leave the colony there waa a steamer leaving for the Islands tho same nighb he loft in tho Taravara for Giaborne. Ho, however, went on board in a half - drunken state, and it was only when he arrived at Gieborne that ho realised what ho bad done. None of tho money was expended with tho exception of a few shillings, and full and ample restitution had been made to the Company, together with tho expenses incurred. The defendant's own account was that ho was in a dreamy intoxicated state and did nob know whab he did. When he reached Gisborne he realised what lie had done and at once determined to return. He was on the way to telegraph station to telegraph to the officor when arrested. As to tho defendant's character, Mr Earl said that he wain his employ as an office boy.ahd was undoubtedly tho best oilico boy be over had. He was most industrious and careful with his work, and earned the g«od opinion of his clients, who, however, one and all remarked upon the boy's eccentricities of character. When lefendant left the Mutual Assurance Company he received ffood testimonials and was thought so much of that they took him back again. Mr Earl asked that the request his learned friend would mako to withdraw the information should be acceded to by the Court. Personally, he would guarantee the costs to the police Mr He&keth said that there appeared to bo* very good ground for believing that while not insane, tho defendant was somewhat eccentric and was well known to be so. Under the circumstances he had advised tho Company that he thought it would nob be out of place to consent to the withdrawal of tho charge. Ha accordingly asked permission to do so. Inspector Hickson said the information was not laid by the police, so he covld not object. He was a strong advocate of dealing as leniently as possible with youthful first offenders. He would, therefore, offer no objections. , The Bench acceded to tho request but ie the same time oxpressed the opinion that it was a very dangerous path the defendant had followed. Had he nob been very fortunate in falling into lenient hands, his whole future career mighb have been ruined. The Bench trusted that in future tho defendant would lead such a life as would show that he appreciated the kindness shown. ' Defendant said, "I thank Your Worahipa very much," and left the Court.