FIRM’S FUNDS STOLEN

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 130, 26 February 1929, Page 12

FIRM’S FUNDS STOLEN

YOUNG MAN’S DOWNFALL

Dominion Special Service.

Dunedin, February 25.

Association with a gambling set and heavy speculations on the racecourse led to the downfall of Howard William Thomas, a young man, who pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to the theft of £206 Is. 6d., the property of Hepry Schneideman, at various dates between February 4 and February 19. Henry William Schneideman, clothing merchant, with headquarters at Wallington, stated that his firm had a branch shop in Dunedin. The accused had been in his employ for. three years past as manager of the Palmerston North and Hastings branches, and for the past four months as manager of the Dunedin branch. On February 6 witness received a debit note from his bank in Dunedin for the sum of £55. On February 21 he came to Dunedin to Investigate. He found that £6l was placed to his credit on February 4. That amount % included the cheque for £55. Inquiries, showed that £6l 19s. consisted of the takings for the day, and was paid into the bank on February 4. The cheque was subsequently cashed. Witness made further inquiries, and found that there was a shortage in banking of £6l Is. 6d. between February 4 and 19. Witness went through his stock books, and found that there were goods missing to the amount of £79. The cash and value of the goods amounted to £206 Is. 6d. Detective Keriton said that bn February 23 he interviewed accused at the shop. Accused made n statejpgpt, in the course of which he said he was a single man. 28 years of age. He was receiving a weekly wage of £6 per week, plus commission, which brought the total to £8 14s. 6d. At the beginning of February he became mixed up with a gambling set. and borrowed a cheque for £55. and used the firm’s cash to square his debts. The cheque was not yet at the bank, and he started to retain the money on suits sold in the shop. He lost £4O at the Wingatui races on the first day, and lost about £55 the next day. He had since been ill, and unable to attend t.o the business. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed.