THEFT ALLEGED

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 259, 1 November 1932, Page 9

THEFT ALLEGED

DAIRY FACTORY ACCOUNTANT MONEY KEPT IN TRUNK. Charged with the theft of £70 3/C from Allen and Finlay, Ltd., of Auckland, Edward John Arlow, formerly bookkeeper and accountant at the Arawa Dairy Factory, owned by Messrs. Allen and Finlay, stobdi his" trial at • the Supreme Court this morning. The indictment was that Arlow fraudulently omitted to account for the money, which he received on behalf of the 'firm. Arlow, who pleaded not guilty, was represented by Mr. T. C. Webb. Mr. V. R. Meredith, the Crown Prosecutor, said the case concerned receipts for butterfat at the Arawa factory. It wae Arlow's duty to handle money paid in. It was alleged that there was a shortage of approximately £80. When questioned regarding this shortage,- he admitted taking some money, but, when taxed as to the amount he said it was only £34 or £36. He gave as an explanation that he had put the money on one side for the purpose of having a reserve of cash. Thie, he said, was necessary in order to pay the difference in price between superfine and firstgrade butterfat. ■ This money, •said* Mr. Meredith, had not gone through the books at all, and no account hpd been given for it to accused's employers. It was decided by the firm to dispense with Arlow's services, and subsequently Arlow brought 'an action for wr.onnful dismissal against Messrs. Allen and/Finlay. It was found that the mbney had .been retained by accused'in a trunk, and later it was paid into the trust account of his solicitor at Whakatane. ~. ' '

Mr. Meredith submitted that accused's action constituted theft. He had certainly received the money and it was not availrble either, for the firm or the persons supplying the superfine butterfat. Case of Arlow. William Frederick Allen, managing director of Messrs. Allen and Finlay, gave evidence in support , ; of the charge. ■ Gross-examined by Mr. Webb, witness i=aid he would not admit that Arlow had increased the number of suppliers from 29 to 130. Mr. Webb put in a circular showing that in the 1930-31 season the Arawa Company had paid the same price for superfine and first-grade cream. William Edgar Ward, solicitor, recently of Whakatane, said Arlow instructed him in hie action against his firm for wrongful dismissal. Arlow gave witnese £40 odd to pay costs, on the understanding that if there was any balance it was to be refunded. Witness was questioned by Mr. Webb about his personal affairs, and also the amount he had charged Arlow for costs. (Proceeding.)