A DEFAULTING GOVERNMENT OFFICER.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3997, 14 May 1884, Page 3

A DEFAULTING GOVERNMENT OFFICER.

AVellington, This day. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday AVilliam C. M'Dermott was charged with embezzling moneys of the Government Insurance Department. David Mitchell Luckie, Government Insurance Commissioner, deposed ;that theprisoner,.in the month of April of last year, - :- was in the employment of the Government. In that month the prisoner had charge of tho cash-book of the Insurance Department, • and it was his duty to bank all moneys in the Bank of New Zealand, paying it into; tho insurance account. Dr Grace was the, medical officer of the |dej)artment, and in ; April of last year the amount due to him : wa.. £49 odd. Towards the payment of that, amount two cheques were drawn —one for £40 and the other for £9 odd. It was the accused's duty to pay the chequo of £40 into the bank in order to make up for the like amount advanced to tho doctor. At that time Mr Lyell was connected with the department, and as witness was away from Wellington then that gentleman signed the cheque in question, M'Der'mott was not justified in cashing the cheque. A Mr Dakin paid in a cheque for £*70 8s 4d in connection . with the purchase of an annuity, and it was the , prisoner's duty to, j pay that money into the bank. On tho Bth _ of February last witness .received information that something was wrong with the cashbook. Tho entry in the book produced was incorrect; thefigures should be £70, 8s 4dy and not £30 8s 4d, aa appeared in the;cntry which was in M'Dermott's handwriting. The figure 7 had :becn erased, and a figure 3 substituted. Several other alterations had been made to make things balance. When witness found out. this stale.of ; thihgs he called the accused into his room, and asked him for an explanation.' Tho accused turned oyer a few. leaves of theibook, , hut did not give any explanation. . Witness remarked that the accused.must have .falsified the book, and embezzled, money of, the Crown! M'Dermptt replied iii ,the • affirmtive..' Witness suspended accused at once, and reported the matter to the.Minister. By ( Mr. Fitzherhert :"■' The .accused/ had been-seven bright years, in the. service of the]Gpvernnient. .' ; Huring thie time he had been with witness the prisoner had always been well, reported 'upon,' and witness had : 1 found him such a good .servant thai he had promoted him to the position of phief clerk. . Evidence was also, giv.eA'as to the accused cashing the che'queat the.bank. ( . . - Oil heing'call,edi up6ri.lo'plead, defendant admitted that, h^had been g<]Uty>of peculation. 1 -V- :ii- , •-• . . His Worship said the case was' one in

which the accused did not possess his sympathy. The case was a most painful one, and he felt that the accused must be punished to tho fullest extent allowed by the law. The sentence of the Court would bo six months' imprisonment with hard labor.