PREYED ON HIS MIND

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 143, 14 December 1933, Page 24

PREYED ON HIS MIND

FAILURE TO ACCOUNT

Six charges of failing to account to Smith, Wylie, and Co., for sums amounting to £102 10s, thereby committing theft, were admitted by Arthur Do Vine, aged 58, a salesman, in the Magistrate's Court yesterday and he was committed by Mr. E. Page, S.M., to the Supreme Court for sentence. Mr. J, D. Willis appeared for De Vine. In evidence, Detective W. E. Murray said that he interviewed the accused, in November last and told him that he had receipts showing that Mrs. E. M. Croft,' of Petone, had paid to him sums amounting to £102 10s between November, 1928, and May, 1930. He also said he had a statement from the accountant of Smith, Wylie, and Co. that it was De Vine's duty to account for those moneys to the company, and that he had failed to do so. De Vine, who was married, then volunteered a statement in which he' said that he had been a salesman for Smith,' Wylie, and Co. for about six years, his duty being to sell shares and. bonds on a commission basis. Mrs. Croft agreed to buy some shares from the company, and he received payments for them from her. He received &83 in cash from her, but he gave receipts for £102 10s because ho allowed for a contra account. He had got into difficulties and foolishly used the moneys in the hope that he would be able to make tham good. Things went from bad to worse and, afraid to face his creditors, he went to Sydney under an assumed name, remaining there for three years. He returned to New Zealand three months ago with the knowledge that he would probably be arrested, and he welcomed the charges, as things had been preying on his mind. He Bincerely regretted his wrtfngs, and though he had no assets it was his intention to do his best to right the position. ,