EMBEZZLEMENT OF FUNDS.

Auckland Star, Issue 123, 24 May 1919, Page 12

EMBEZZLEMENT OF FUNDS.

I • i CONFESSION BY A CLERK. • ; (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) [ CHRISTCHURCH, this day. ■ In the charge against John William , Watkins, who was yesterday committed i for trial on a charge of embezzlement of i the New Zealand Shipping Company's ■ funds, Mr. George Cullender, secretary of the New Zealand Shipping Company, | said accused had been employed by the company for two years and a half, as ■ passenger clerk and the rest of the time on other work. On April 28 accused was given notice to leave on account of his j position having to bo filled by a re- . turned soldier. On May 12 accused came . into his (witness') office, and said he 1 ; was going into the general manager to . \ confess to having stolen money. Witness ; 1 asked him how much he had taken, and ; • ! accused replied that it amounted to , \ about £300. lie then left the room, i '■ The general manager came into witness' ' ; room shortly after, and while they were discussing the matter, accused came in ' and handed in a paper with a list of amounts on it (produced). The list in- ; . eluded, with one exception, the amount i mentioned by witnesses in Court. . I To Mr. Cunningham (who appeared 1 for accused) witness said the company ■ had no knowledge of the defalcations uniil accused confessed them. Accused's '. conduct and work previously had been ; considered good. ' j Mr. Cunningham: How was it that the » amounts were not checked? ) Witness: The book should have been ' taken round with the money to the . cashier. j Mr. Cunningham: Unless under the sys- : tern existing a man confessed, how could • v tliiivs of this kind be found out? I Witness: As soon as the vessel sailed ]it would be discovered, as accounts are then checked. Mr. Cunningham: Then there is no system of checking the amounts day by (i day ? 3 Witness: Thsre was a better system of checking before the war started, but p afterward* it was not found possible to c keep up the system.