CLERK CHARGED WITH THEFTS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19667, 10 July 1929, Page 6

CLERK CHARGED WITH THEFTS.

. » OVER £4OO INVOLVED. PLEA OF NOT GUILTY. Thefts of money amounting to £403 lis lOd were aliened against James Joseph Thomas Morns, a clerk, aged 22 veai-5, in the Magistrate's Court vcaterdav morning. Mr E. C. Lo^ej, S M was ou the Bench, and ChierDctective Carroll conducted the prosecution. Mr E. to. Bowie appeared for the accused, who was charged with the theft, on divers dates, between June 3th and June 13th, of £403 lis 10a. the property of J. C. Hutton (New Zealand), Ltd. The Chief-Detective saiU that the accused had been in th© employ of J. C. Huttoji. Ltd., and part of his duties had been to handle tne monev of the firm. He had frankly admitted petting away with the monej ■ Colin Monro, secretary of the firm I of J. C. Hutton (New Zealand). Ltd., , said that the accused had been em- j ploved bv the Christchurch branch tor about seven or eight month?-, and had left the firm's employ on June 13th. j On the 14th the accused called on witness at Ids office in Wellington and advised him that he had been misappropriating monev. Asked how much. accused told him about £2OO. and in reply to his question what he had been doing with it the accused saio. he had been gambling. Witness later asked the accountant at Christchurch ; to go through all the accounts with the accused to ascertain what accounts had been tampered with. The figure came to £3S4 17s 8d at the time. It was only fair to the accused to say that the "firm had no knowledge of the shortage lentil he had volunteered, the information. John Henry Cunningham, chief accountant to the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association. Canterbury, said that his firm had been dealing with J C. Hutton. Ltd.. Christchurch. On March sth he issued a cheque made out to J. C. Hutton Ltd., for £IOO odd and received a receipt (produced) On March 18th he paid another amount of £96 15s. This was paid bv cheque which had been negotiated. On April 20th he paid another cheque for £96 17s 4d, and this had been negotiated, but they had not received the firm's receipt. Edmund Francis Heffeman. account ant in the employ of M. McDonnell merchant, Grevmonth. said that on May 20th his firm forwarded a cheque (produced) to J. C. Hutton. Ltd.. in payment of an account. He had not received a receipt. James Pvke Gage proprietor of tea rooms in Hicrh street Grevmonth pnid that he had forwarded a cheque for £8 7s 3d to J C Hutton. "Ltd.. in payment of an account and had not receded a receipt for the money. Evidence on similar line* was ?riven bv George Sheridpn McKay, storekeeper. Christchurch. who said that he had forwarded a cheque for £l4 lis 8d Walter Brook Tavlor, manager of the Christchurch branch of J. C. Hutton (New Zealand). Ltd.. said that the accused had been emploved from December last till June 13th as a clerk in the office. His duty was to receive monev and make out and forward re--1 ceipts. During witness's absence he handled all letters. Besides being manager, witness did a good deal of travel- ; ling, so that the accused was often left in charge. Detective Thomas said that he had interviewed the accused, who had frankly admitted embezzling the money. Witness read a signed statement by the accused in which he said that he had been earning £2 10s a week and had found it a struggle to live. He did not drink or smoke. He had been a member of different snorting bodies and had held positions of trust. h pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, hail as before being allowed.