SHORTAGE IN THE CASH

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 136, 6 December 1926, Page 10

SHORTAGE IN THE CASH

ACCOUNTANT COMMITS SUICIDE

AUDITOR'S EVIDENCE,

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") •' CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. "He was surprised to see me and, after showing me where the books were, he left, the office. When next I saw him he was dead. In tlie meantime. I had found a shortage of £450 in tho firm's cash, of which ho had been in charge,'' said Mr. W. E. Best, an auditor, who gave evidence at the adjourned inquest on James Adair Hal], "an accountant for tho Hawardcn branch of tho Canterbury Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association, who was found dead last AVednesday. Best said be ..visitqd Ha warden- to audit the boo"ks without" giving notice of his intention. Witness* asked Hall for two receipt blocks, and he walked to his overcoat, and took something from his pocket, and left the office. Witness thought that he had gone to get the blocks. When wit-, ness found a shortage he made inquiries for Hall, but was informed that he was not on the premises. Subsequently he wa3 found in a stable dead. Mr. Peek, manager of the drapery department/ told witness he had seen the deceased in the chaff house, and had told him that witness waited him. Hall replied he would go to the office in' ten minutes time. "Foek came back," said witness, "but did not inform me that he had seen Hall. I cannot understand, that action on his part. The first intimation I had that anything untoward had happened was when I saw the body. They told me nothing, but just led me to him.

The Coroner, Mr. Lawry, found that the deceased had committed suicide by poisoning himself.