CONSTABLE CHARGED.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17610, 13 November 1922, Page 5

CONSTABLE CHARGED.

ALLEGATIONS OF THEFT,

Charges of stealing Government moneys on various dates, totalling over £OOO, while he was a servant of the Grown, were preferred against Henry Thomas Smith (Mr Northcroft), formerly constable and clerk of the Court at Kawhia, at the Polioe Court at Hamilton last week before Mr H. A. Young, S.M. The aceusedi was also charged with stealing launch lamps* belonging to the Kawhia Harbour Board, and -& wheelbarrow, the property of William Henry Breg. The accused was constable and clerk of the Court at Kawhia for about nine years. Senior-Detective Cummings appeared for the police. It is alleged that when the thefts of certain articles were reported to the accused he in turn reported to his superiors that he had investigated one of the cases and could find no trace of the missing articles. On the other two oases he did not report at all. The polioe further alleged that the accused also wrote to certain witnesses asking them to give no information to the police and to supply him with false returns. • HAMILTON, November 11. At the Magistrate's Court Henry Thomas Smith, formerly a constable and Clerk of the Court at Kawhia, was charged with the theft of Government moneys totalling £246, and certain articles. Evidence was given that dertain moneys paid to Smith had not been accounted for, and the articles reported to have been stolen were afterwards found on Smith's farm. Smith pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial at the Supreme Court at Hamilton. Bail was allowed, himself in £3OO and two sureties of £l6O each.