THEFT OF £16,220 ALLEGED

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23752, 25 September 1942, Page 3

THEFT OF £16,220 ALLEGED

MORE EVIDENCE HEARD (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 24. More evidence was heard to-day in the case against Raymond John Watts, an Air Force sergeant, formerly employed by Woolworths, Ltd., who was charged in the Magistrate's Court with the theft of money and cloth materials of a total value of £16,220. There were 10 charges of theft and 10 of failure to account. Watts was also charged with a breach of the Secret Commissions Act, and with forging a Woolworths receipt. The case is being heard by Mr J. L. Stout, S.M. Robert Leeds Tasker, now a sergeant in the Army, and formerly in business as an agent, gave evidence yesterday concerning transactions he had had on his own behalf and not on behalf of the firm of W. H. Ainey and Company, with Watts. Cross-examined this morning, Tasker said he gathered from Watts that at times Woolworths unloaded surplus stocks for cash. He had every faith in Watts. He thought the money he was giving was going to Woolworths. He got no receipts from Watts and kept no records of transactions with Watts. He gave Watts £9O commission at the end of the proceedings because Watts had been very good to him.

When it came to making an income tax return, said witness, he was m the Army, and did not put one in as he was under the impression that he did not have to. He had later seen the Commissioner and arranged with him to put in a return when the present case was finished. The case was adjourned till Wednesday. when evidence will be heard on four minor charges.