THE CHARGE AGAINST G. M. DRUMMOND.

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2719, 27 April 1874, Page 3

THE CHARGE AGAINST G. M. DRUMMOND.

The defaulting manager of the Richmond branch of the Provincial and Suburban Bank, Melbourne, George Maurice Drummond, was charged at the Richmond Police Court (says the " Argus"), with embezzlement, larceny, and forgery. The evidence against him was very conclusive, and, having reserved his defence, he was committed to take his trial at the next sittings of the Melbourne Criminal Sittings. The case appeared to evoke a considerable amount of interest, as tbe Court was well filled. Miss Austin, the prisoner's cousin and partner of his flight, was called as a witness against him, but as she was only to prove that he left Melbourne for New Zealand in the Bteamer Claud Hamilton on Saturday, January 24th, Drummond admitted that fact, so as to save her going into the witnessbox. The prisoner appears to have exercised a considerable amount of ingenuity in his transactions. The Provincial and Suburban Bank had an account with the Oriental Bank, Melbourne, which could be drawn upon by the joint signature of Drummond aa Imanager, and Mr Riddle, accountant of tbe bank. On the 19th of January, a cheque if or £500 was drawn by these two, and Drummond went away in order to get the money for it. When he returned, he told Riddell that the Oriental Bank would not cash it, and saying that it was of no more use, tore up a piece of paper which looked like the cheque. Riddle acquiesced in the destruction of the cheque, ( and cancelled the " block " in his possession. ' On Friday, January 23rd, four days later, Drummond took £250 away from the bank in order to lodge it in the Oriental Bank. When the pay-slip was returned, it purported to be initialed by Mr Inwood, receiving teller at the Oriental Bank, but it afterwards .transpired that the initials were forged, and the money was never lodged. That same day j Drummond opened an account at the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank, in the name of G. Morrison and Co., whom he described as sharebrokers, of Collins Btreet. At this time he lodged £260 to their credit. The day following—Saturday, January 24th—he cashed the £500 cheque, which was drawn on the 19th, and alleged to have been destroyed by him. For this he received 26 £_0-note9, which he at once took to the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank, making a total of £760 to the credit of G. Morrison and Co. He then drew a cheque for £660 against this account, and received it all in gold—halfsovereigns. That same afternoon he left Melbourne for New Zealand by the Claud Hamilton. Tbe three charges preferred against the prisoner were so raised up together that only the evidence in one case was taken, and as the bank will recover the greaser portion of their money, it is not probable ' that they will proceed with the other ; two charges. Drummond was removed in custody, aa he has been unable to obtain bail. In the course of the investigation, it transpired that bis salary as manager was' only £125 per *Psum, with bouse rent; -