CHARGES OF THEFT

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30051, 8 February 1963, Page 6

CHARGES OF THEFT

Alleged Failure To Account The trial began before Mr Justice Macarthur and a Supreme Court jury yesterday of a man charged with theft of £65 9s 6d in money and cheques—the proceeds of sales he was authorised to make of effects in a dead man’s estate. Michael Colin Harris, aged 26, a linesman (Mr J. G. Leggal), is charged with theft by failing to account to Charles Irwin Mains on September 1 for a cheque for £25 17s (id received from Harley Francis Moore; £lB 5s in cash received from Gregory Ediward Johnston; and a cheque for £2l 7s received from Robin Sylvester Moore.

Mr C. M. Roper, the Crown Prosecutor, said that Mains.

administrator of his father’s estate, went to Derfield from Waipara to arrange auction sales of furniture and effects. He discussed the matter with Harris, whom he believed to have some knowledge of such matters. It was arranged that Harris should handle the sales, and pay over the money received when Mains came again early in September. Mr Roper said the evidence would be that Mains called on September 1 after Harris had made three sales, receiving money in cheques or cash from H. F. Moore, G. E. Johnston, and R. S. Moore. Harris told Mains that he had posted about £65 to him care of the Nassella Tussock Board at Waiau by registered mail Mains replied that he was employed by the board at Waipara, and Harris said he would get a friend in the Post Office to see that the money was sent to the right address.

Harm was then in the process of packing up and going to Ashburton. When the money did not arrive, Mains made an appointment to meet Harris, but that was not kept Then he went to Ashburton and saw Harris, who gave tan the address of a Mr McQueen in Amraui who would send tan the money. There wm no McQueen at the address given. Interviewed by the police, Harris denied that he told Mains he had posted the money. But be admitted that he was in possession of the cheques when Madras first called to see him at Dart Md. Mr Roper said Hama also admitted using the money and cheques in Ashburton to pay his own debts. The trial will continue today.