THEFT DENIED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 119, 22 May 1941, Page 8

THEFT DENIED

OLD EMPLOYEE CHARGED BUYER SENT FOR TRIAL Employed by a city firm for the last 32 years, Frederick John Hawke, a buyer, aged 51, appeared on summons in the Police Court this morning charged that, between Nov. 1, 1940, and April 5, 1941, then being a servant In the employ of John Court, Limited, he stole sums of money totalling £136 19/11. Accused, for whom Mr. Trevor Henry appeared, pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence and was committed to the Supreme .Court for trial by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. Shortage Of £ls(i Herbert Stanley Wilding, secretary of John Court, Limited, said Hawke joined the staff on January 24, 1909, and had been employed until April 7. For a number of years he was a buyer and had been in charge of the photographic department. Accused's duties were to superintend the running of that department and to collect moneys received through a pnotographic machine and pay them, together with a docket, to the cashier. Accused received a salary of £10 per week. Last year his bonuses amounted to £150. On April 6 witness supervised a check made by two other employees in the photographic department, and it revealed that from November 1, 1940, to April 5, 1941, there was a shortage of £136 19/11 in the department. Accused was in charge of that department during that period, with the exception of the time he was on annual leave, from January 13 to January 25 last. Evidence detailing the system employed in the photographic department was given by other employees, who produced exhibits comprising photographs and dockets. Detective-Sergeant N. W. Baylis said that as the result of a complaint he interviewed the accused on April 7 and informed him that there were serious shortages in the photographic department. Witness asked Hawke if he could give an explanation as to how the shortages had occurred. Hawke replied that he could not account for them, and said he did not take the money, neither could he suggest anyone else who might have taken it or a method by which the money might have been taken. Accused gave witness an explanation of the working of the department. HaAvke said he made a check in the department at least once a week and sometimes twice a week. To carry out this check, he said he checked the negatives and the order books against the takings. He said he had never found any shortages. In a statement which DetectiveSergeant Baylis produced, accused denied having had any of the money or any guilty knowledge of the matter. In committing the accused for trial, the magistrate allowed bail in a surety of £100.