£2000 MISSING

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 27, 27 October 1926, Page 10

£2000 MISSING

DEFALCATIONS BY BANK TELLER SERIES OF THEFTS ADMITTED ' INTERFERENCE WITH LEDGER ACCOUNTS Dominion Special. Christchurch, October 26. One of the most audacious bank thefts in Christchurch of recent years was exposed in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when William Henry Melvin, formerly a. teller in the National Bank of New Zealand at Christchurch, pleaded guilty to thefts of sums totalling .£2OOO from the bank. Melvin, who is 27 years old, is wellknown in Christchurch sporting circles. He was a prominent Rugby footballer and oarsman. The evidence given before Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M., showed that the defalcations were made systematically over a period of years, and were clevetly cover- , ed up until last month, when the shortage was discovered by the accountant of a firm doing business with the bank. Chief-Detective T. Gibson prosecuted, and Mr. F. D. Sargent appeared for Melvin. Doris M. Bellamey, a clerk in the bank, said the monthly statements for Langdowns, Ltd., were questioned by that firm recently, and she referred them to Melvin. Stuart William Spence, another clerk, said that some time ago, while Melvin was on leave, .he telephoned to witness, asking him to leave the current account ledger, L. to Ma., out overnight, as he wanted to have a look at it.

George Lewis Pomfret Dodd, secretary and accountant to Langdowns, Ltd., said that the statement for September showed a balance on the current account of £'lBlo 4s. After receiving this statement he balanced the books and found a shortage of £2000.He then went to the bank, where lie saw Melvin, who said, “Is there something wrong?” Witness produced the bank statement showing a balance at August 31 due by the bank as £8338 15s. 3d., and compared it with the other statement showing a, balance of £6338 15 s. 3d After some conversation Melvin asked witness, when he was leaving, how long he would be. When witness returned, after twenty minutes, Melvin as not there. Clement Alexander Steven, in charge of the branch of the National Bank of New Zealand at Papanui. said that Melvin called at the bank on October 4, at about 11.30 a.tn. As a result of something Melvin told him witness gave him the bank revolver, fully loaded. Later in the day he heard something which caused him to look for Melvin, and he found him at the Wellington Hotel in the evening. After some persuasion on witness’s part he got the revolver back. Alfred Keith Collins, a clerk, stated that on the morning of October 4 'Melvin arrived at work as usual, but disappeared some time before noon. Witness was sent out to search for him but could not find any trace of him. Witness was at once put on to investigate the bank’s books., and found that £2OOO was missing. The first theft occurred on February 10, 1922. The thefts gradually increased until February 12, 1924, when the total was £B5O. On that date the shortage was transferred from one ledger to another, because of a change of Melvin s duties. During 1924 three amounts of £5O and four of £lOO were taken, and in 1925 three amounts of £lOO and one of £3OO, the last being on December 17. Witness read a statement made voluntarily by Melvin, with the object of assisting the bank to clear up the position. Melvin detailed the defalcations. and expressed regret that he was unable to make good the shortage, as there was no one who could help him out. No money had been taken from the bank during the last ten months. Melvin pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed in accused’s own recognisance of £lOOO and two sureties of £5OO each. In addition Melvin is to report to the Detective Office at 8 a.m. and at 8 p.m. daily.