FAILURE TO ACCOUNT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 260, 2 November 1932, Page 11

FAILURE TO ACCOUNT.

DAIRY ACCOUNTANT GUILTY. JURY RECOMMENDS MERCY. "Guilty, hut with a strong recommendation to mercy," was the finding of the jury in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon, in the case in which Edward John Arlow, formerly accountant and bookkeeper at the Arawa dairy factory, was charged with fraudulently failing to account for money entrusted to him on behalf of the firm.

The defence was a denial of any guilt, accused contending that he had not stolen or misappropriated the money, but had put it aside in order to be able to make payments on behalf of his employers, Messrs. Allen and Finlay. Ltd. Subsequently he lodged the >'.ioney with a Whakatane solicitor.

Summing up, Mr. Justice ITerdman said the case was a curious one, and some of its features were grotesque. When a man received money on behalf of his employer he was naturally expected not only to enter it in the ensh book, hut to pay it into the banking account. Arlow did neither; nor did he say anything to his employers about his having this money even after he was dismissed. It gave the key to the whole matter when Arlow said that to enable him to make the payments it was necessary for the hooks to be falsified. According to Arlow all the people he was associated with were rascals.

After the jury had returned their verdict, his Honor said he would give every heed to the recommendation. Sentence was. postponed.