FALSE NAMES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 78, 2 April 1931, Page 17

FALSE NAMES

ON TRADE DOCKETS

TWO MEN CHARGED

Palso documents iiiado but over a period from 7tli October, 1927, to 2Qth January, 1930, relating to the purchase of liidea aud skins led to the appearance of William Ernest Clapham, labourer, aged 63, and James Sinclair, wool grader, aged 48, at the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr. E. Page, S.M., on a charge of stealing £205 0s Id from Wilson Cajiham and Co., Ltd. Sinclair, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, and Clapham, who entered a plea of not guilty, was committed for trial. Leonard M. Wallace, manager of the Wellington branch of Messrs. Wilson Canham and Co., Ltd._, said that both the accused had been in the employ of his firm. Clapham was the head storeman, and had authority to buy 'hides and skins from farmers. Sinclair was employed as foreman on the sheepskin floor, and it was his duty to value the skins when they came in. Witness carried out stocktaking at intervals of three months, and ho found thero was a shortage in sheep skins. On 24th January, 1930, Clapham ceased to be in the employ of the firm, and another man, Wynne, took his place. In January of 1931 witness told Sinclair that he had been buying on his. own account without authority. Sinclair then ad: mitted that certain clients whose names were on purchasing dockets did not exist. He said that ho'had converted the money to his own use and had shared some with Oapham. •Detective Hayhurst said that whou he interviewed Sinclair' he admitted taking the money, and disclosed the documents bearing fictitious names. When Clapham was interviewed he wanted to see Sinclair's statcmenf. This !was refused, and he then admitted that he had taken part with Sinclair in taking money from the firm.