NELSON.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 801, 24 May 1865, Page 3

NELSON.

THE SUPKEME COTJBT. The Nelson papers are principally filled with reports of the Supreme Court, now in session. The most important case was a charge against D. H. Murdoch, of having on or about the Ist September, 1864, embezzled and stolen the sum of £3700 in bank-notes, the property of the Bank of New Zealand, his employers. His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston was very severe in his summing up on the inadequacy of the salaries paid by the Bank to the clerks in their employ. He observed with respect to one of the witnesses: — "As to the salary received by Griffiths from the bank, it was such as, he felt sure, any day-laborer would refuse ; he should not have received at his employers' hands a mere pittance that was insufficient for him to pay for his board and lodging, not to mention tho clothing requisite for his appearance in such a situation. He could not help thinking that the public would agree with him, that such a system as had been adopted by the bank, in placing so great a temptation in the way of yet inexperienced young men, with such inadequate remuneration, was to be deplored. He was sorry to say it, but in this colony, and within his own experience, he had seen a system prevail in both the civil and military departments, whereby large temptations had existed with every inadequate remuneration. Young men, mere lads, however high their positions and connexions, should not be suddenly raised to positions of such trust. The temptations were far too serious."

He also commented on the loose way in which the business of the Bank was conducted :—

" With reference to the fact that so large a sum of money in notes, gold, and silver, being handed over without a formal receipt, that did appear singular. He thought that most men, in handing over so very large a sum as was transferred by the two clerks that evening, would require from even a father or brother, if they were the recipients, a receipt that such had been duly given to them. The business of the bank appeared, in this respect, to have been very loosely conducted, for there was no rule, no precedent to follow at the handing over of money from one teller to his successor. The manager had said that Griffiths ought to have taken a receipt, but such evidently was not the rule, because Blundell, who succeeded Murdoch, gave no receipt, he merely initialed the books."

The jury, after retiring for an hour and twenty minutes, returned a verdict of Not Ghiilty, which was received with loud applause in the body of the Court, instantly suppressed by the judge. There were two cases of larceny sent for trial from Hokitika, in one of which a man was charged with stealing 55 ozs. of gold, of the value of £190, but prisoners were acquitted, principally, it appeared, from the insufficiency of the evidence.