CASHIER'S GUILT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 97, 27 April 1933, Page 5

CASHIER'S GUILT.

STOLE SUM OF £3618.

SHIPPING COMPANY'S LOSS.

COMMITTED TOR SENTENCE.

(By Telegraph'.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday,

A cashier, Archibald James Glen, aged 39, stated to have had control in the handling, of approximately £60,000 a year, while employed in the Wellington office of Huddart-Parker and Company, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate's Court to-day to stealing £3618 18/2 from the company. Neil D. McLean, Wellington manager of the Huddart-Parker Company, said that the accused had been employed by the firm- since, 1919, and had been attached to the Wellington office since that time. Latterly he had been cashier, and in.that capacity he would have access to all records of the office. Returns were made out each month and sent to the head office at Melbourne, and the financial statement would be accompanied by a bank certificate relating to bank deposits. Witness said he took over the managership of the branch on March 1, 1933, and made a close investigation of matters'in the office. As a result of an inquiry he made regarding a cheque the accused made certain admissions. Witness asked him how much the shortage was, and he indicated that it was between £3600 and £3700. He said that the defalcations had taken place over a period of approximately five years. The accused was immediately suspended. Net Weekly Wage £4 12/1. Cross-examined by Mr. R. E. Pope, who appeared for the accused, witness said that Glen's wages at the time he was dismissed were £4 17/6, less tax, making the net amount £4 12/1. Mr. Pope: I think he had full control over the whole of the cash of the Wellington branch of the company ?—That is correct. What would that amount to approximately per annum? —Somewhere about £60,000 per annum. He . has occupied this position as cashier ..for about eight years?— From eight to ten years. ■ And djiring that period he has'exercised similar control over the cash of the company? —;Yee. When he first occupied the cashier'a position what approximately would his wages have been? —I don't remember that. I only want an approximate figure.— I think about £3 10/ to £3 15/. Would it be correct to say that during that period he had never been subject to the control of a superior officer of the company in regard to the cash?—l checked part, of the monthly returns at the end of each month. Was there ever an audit made of the work?— There, was an audit made in Melbourne. How exactly did Glen deceive the Melbourne authorities with regard to these returns?—By altering"the figures in the monthly cash book. . Witness said that the only document altered was the bank certificated In reply to Mr. Pope, witness said he found out what was going on because a cheque shown as unpresented had gone through the bank.. '■ About a week previous to the time you found out about this unpresented cheque, did you not receive a letter from the Melbourne office of the company? — Yes. I think that letter explained that a wrong total had been carried forward in the previous month's returns? —Yes. And that was when suspicion was first aroused?— Well, yes. Statement to Police. Detective-Sergeant Revell said that the accused had admitted the defalcations and had said that he had spent all the money with the exception of £124, which he had caused to be sent to England. The detective-sergeant said that this money had subsequently been handed over by Mr. Pope on behalf of the, accused. In his statement made to the police. Glen drew attention to the fact that he was receiving only £4 12/1 per week and was handling approximately £70,009 per year. Owing to being compelled to live on a small salary and in the absence of an internal audit and an office check, he was unable, to resist the temptation of converting money to his own use., "I would like to state that I have had a good deal of expense owing to sickness in the home," said the accused. "I have had big operations to pay for and the attendant expenses that go with these. . "There is another factor which has had a bearing in-this-matter, and that is that my position to the HuddartParker Company compelled-me to live on a higher scale than my salary provided for." V , After the accused had entered a plea of guilty to the charge, he was committed to the . Supreme Court for sentence. ' ■'