CLERK'S DEFALCATIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 205, 24 May 1919, Page 3

CLERK'S DEFALCATIONS

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. By ''Telegraph.—Press Association. Christ'church, May 23. John William Watkins, passenger clerk in the New Zealand Shipping Company's office, pleaded guilty at the Magistrate's Court to defalcations amounting to i£2-H), consisting of amounts paid in by various customers. He" was committed to tho Supreme Court for sentence. In the course of evidence George Callender, secretary to the New Zealand Shipping Company, said accused had been employed by the company for two years and a half as a passenger clerk, and tho rest pf the time on other work. On April 28 accused had been given notice to leave on account of his position having been filled by a returned soldier. On May 12 accused ciime into his (witness's) office saying lie was going, in to tho general manager to coniess having stolen money. Witness asked him how much,, he had taken, and accused replied-- that it amounted to about J. 300. Tie then loft the ropni. The general manager eama ■into witness's room shortly after, aim whilo they were discussing the diatter accused came in and haiided in a paper with a list 'of the amounts on ft. Tho list included, with one exception, , the amounts mentioned by witnesses iu Court. ' To Mr. Cunningham (counsel for accused): The company had no knowledgo of tlio defalcations until accused confessed them. Accused's conduct and work previously had been considered good. Mr. Cunningham: How was it that tbo amounts were not checked? Witness: The book ohould'bo taken round with the money to the cashier. Mr. Cunningham; Unless under the system a man confessed, how could tilings of this kind be found out? Witness: As soon us the vessel sailed it would be discovered, as it is then checked. Mr. Cunningham: Then there is no system of checking the amounts day by day? • witness: There was a better systom.of checking befoi'e the war started, but afterwards it wns not found possible to keep up the.system.