ACCOUNTANT'S DEFALCATIONS

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 187, 7 August 1918, Page 2

ACCOUNTANT'S DEFALCATIONS

FROM FARMERS' TRADING "''■'" COMPANY. A SHORTAGE OF £320. Robert A-bererombie Brown (39) r „. ■ cently accountant in the employ of the. Auckland Farmers' Union Trading Company, was arrested this morning by Detective Cummings, on two charges of theft of money, aggregating about°£32o the property of the Trading Company' ■" f Accused came before Mr. P. K. Hunt "" 1 S-M., this afternoon, charged that about' September 25 last year he stole £1, and that between October 1, 1917, andYWl 31, 1918, he stole £310 17/. -"»"»». '-""> evidence led by Chief Detective McMahon was to the effect that after — the financial year of the company ended - on March 31 last the auditor (Mr. J. D 7-" •■" Restell) had to use considerable pressure ■' to get the books for audit immediately, .' On April 5 he compared the bank pass •''■■'-' book with the cash book, and then pro- - ceeded with the audit, at considerable ' ' !'- ---inconvenience owing to the books being at the same time in use by the office staff* : for making up the annual balance-sheet. " On Monday, 22nd April, he had the books practically finished, and requested the. ~ : " accused to have the share book, etc. . f '. ■written up for the final check, hut met with delay on accused's part in having the work done, and after reminding ac-' -', cused of it daily for five days he got a. * •'' confession from accused that the latter \ had stolen about £80. Witness then.* got accused to work out the figures -"?■" of the capital account -with • him,- ; - - and the deficiencies then made and proved to be £113 13/. The manager' of the company was then present, and - ' accused made alterations to the balance ''.' sheet according to the figures, when Me-'' :| Donald inquired if the balance sheet' could go to the printer. Witness said he would like to make a further investi- ' gation, and he did so next day, working, . out the shortage to £25G 17/. Previous to that witness had drawn accused's' - attention to the fact that a large num-. -. " bcr of shareholders were in arrears, and suggested that notices be sent to ttenv - demanding payment. Included in the A"f, list as a defaulter was aMr McGough'i ;'y and after the notices had been sent out a number of persons produced evidence '.?$. that the claims had been previously paid. ~'f The total of the amounts thus shown to ,-; t ■be wrongly shown as outstanding was. "■ £64, making the total deficiency on the accounts £320 17/. This shortage ap-. peared to have occurred in a period oT six months. *• .'■"> The case is proceeding. : .. ~ . t