CLERK'S DEFALCATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 97, 26 April 1928, Page 10

CLERK'S DEFALCATIONS.

JAMAKI ROAD B(*ARD CASES.

GOODMAN AND ARROL

PLEAD GUILTY.

"MONEY WENT IN HORSE-RA(ING."

A plea of guilty was entered by Herbert Frederick Thomas Goodman (Mr. R. A. Singer) on the charge of stealing £590, the property of the Tamaki Road Board, on March 31, 1928. The case was heard by Mr. W- RMcKean, S.M.,' at the Police Coiirt to-day. Accused was committed for sentence at the next session of the Supreme Court* and bail was allowed in two sureties of £250 each.

Goodman was also charged with stealing sums of money totalling £250, the property of thfi"Tamaki Road Board, between the dates of November 3, 1927, and March 31, 1928.

Goodman, who was clerk to the Tamaki Road Board until suspended on April 4 of this year, in his statement said he was 35 years of age, married, and' had two children. His wife and family were at present in England, le&iding With her people. He was clerk of the Tamaki Road Board for just over two and a-half years. As chief executive officer and treasurer of the Tamaki Road Board his duties included the collection and' banking of all moneys due to the board. Wit\ the exception of one item, mentioned in a separate statement, his cash was correct, all moneys' received by him having been banked up to November 3, 1927. Since November 3„to March 31 he took from the cash on sundry dates £250, putting into the cash 1.0.U.'s in Most of this mon?y went in horse-racing. No one else was implicated with him in these offences. About the end of December last, while balancing cash and bank books, he discovered that hit .assistant, R. H. Arrol, owed the cash £104. He spoks to Arroll about the matter, and he said he would put it in. Having his hands tied owing to the existence of his own 1.0.U.'5, he was unable to take any action against Arrol. As balancing day approached, not being ablp to redeem his 1.0.U.'5, he destroyed them. Concerning the exception previously referred to, Goodman in his statement said he admitted that on March 31, 1928, the Burke Organisation, Ltd., paid to the board a sum by way of deposit amounting to £730. He further admitted, that he falsified the receipt book and accounted for £140 only, and that he applied the balance to f liver deficiencies in his accounts. When •'took 'oyer the position- at Tamaki-he ■M- heavily in ilebty ud thii money

went in discharge of these liabilities, and also in discharging heavy medical expenses incurred by the continued illr ness of his wife. To the best of his knowledge and belief none of this money went on horse-racing.

Following the case of Goodman, Roy Herbert Fraser Arrol, 25 (Mr. Wright)., was placed in the dock to answer a charge of having stolen the sum of £239 from the Tamaki Road Board between the dates of November 30, 1927, and March 31, 1928. Arrol pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, bail being allowed in one surety of £300.

Arrol, in his statement, said he was 25 years of age and not married. He was assistant clerk to the Tamaki Road Board from June, 1926, to March 31,

1928. He was in financial difficulties about November 20, 1927, due to betting on horse racing, and he took £60 from the cash in hand at. the board's office, and he continued taking amounts from the cash handled from ' the cashier. The total sum taken by him was £239 in all. He kept a check on the amounts taken, and had hoped to repay the total amount before the end of the financial year. It was owing to being pressed for money that he started to "appropriate the funds. Goodman was aware about the end of December, 1927, that

he was involved to the extent of £104. He was aware in November last that Goodman, clerk and treasurer to the board, had taken £130 from the board's '"lids. This was prior to his first taking any money from the cash. Knowing the clerk to the board was involved, and" being pressed for money himself, he did not consider he was taking any ureat risk in using the money temporarily, as he honestly intended to replace it later. He had not falsified, in any manner, any book, receipt or any other paper belonging to the board during his period of office. The clerk,, to the board was aware that he (Arrol) owed the board's general account the sum of £104, and acquainted himself with the full facts as regards the total involved sometime early in Mftrch, 1928. He regretted very much having committed these offences, and would, if I given the chance, make every endeavour to make good.