THEFT ALLEGED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 25, 30 January 1937, Page 11

THEFT ALLEGED.

HOSPITAL SECRETARY. SUM OF £45 INVOLVED. ACCUSED SENT FOR TRIAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WAIPUKI'RAI'. Friday. The managing secretary of tlie Waijiawa Hospital Board. Percy Raeburn Smyrk. appeared in the Waipuktirau' Police Court to-day before Mr. J. Miller. J S.M., charged with the theft 011 September 29, of £4.">. the property of the board. Pat Sharpin. cashier, said there was an arrangement under which he acted as accused's banker, holding his sa'arv and paying private accounts. Sometimes, on accused's instructions, he borrowed money from the board's imprest account to advance to accused. In September accused owed the imprest account £.">. Accused received an account for £4~> for his daughter's school fees, said witness, and witness paid the account from money drawn for board inemltcrs' travelling expenses. Accused later drew his October salary in advance. This went I toward making tip the deficiency. Other sums were advanced to accused at vari-; ous times to pay bookmakers. In Dece:nber, when witness was interviewed bv the audit inspector, the deficiency in the board's funds was £30. There was never any suggestion that accused intended to retain the moneys borrowed. From July to I)eceml>er "2 accused was never square with witness' imprest account. The audit inspector in evidence said accused previously bad been warned that lie must not overdraw his salary. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail of £101) was allowed, with one suretv of £100.