TRAVELLER'S DEFICIENCY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 254, 24 October 1905, Page 3

TRAVELLER'S DEFICIENCY.

PLEADS GUILTY TO THEi

William Oldham, formerly a town traveller employed by Messrs. Heather, Ro'erlon, and Co.. pleaded guilty before Ir. C. C. Kettle, S.M., yesterday af- ' moon to a charge of receiving £102 '! ' from Annie Preston and others beween September 22 and October 10, and '"raudulently omitting to account for the

>oney to his employers. Chief Detecice Marsack prosecuted, and Mr. J. C. vlartin defended.

Arthur B. Roberton, one of the members of the firm of Heather, Roberton. xnd Co., Custom-street, stated that the accused had been employed as town traveller since September, 1902, his sal- ! ary commencing at £125, with travelling expenses. Four months afterwards he was paid £150 and expenses. A list of payments made by the firm's cusomers to the accused was handed to the witness, who said that Oldham had failed to account for £102 3/1, When the deficiency was discovered, the witness asked Oldham for an explanation, and was told that* he lost a roll of notes on Labour Day while he was drinking.

To Mr. Martin, the witness said the lefalcations had only extended from Seplomber 22 to October 13, and he had no reason to believe that'there was any further deficiency. During the month he would handle between £ 1000 and £ 1500. Witness had heard that recently the accused had been pretty free with the liquor. Oldham had deposited yome scrip with the firm with the object of making partial restitution of the deficiency.

Detective Hollis produced a written confession made by Oldham, who estimated his deficiency at £102 3/. The witness added that when Oldham was arrested he expressed thfc hope that everything would be got over as quietly as possible. The accused had given every assistance to the police.

Pleading guilty, the. accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. He was allowed bail in two sureties of £150 each and his own for £300.