HOLLINGS RETRIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 35, 10 August 1934, Page 10

HOLLINGS RETRIAL

BOOKKEEPING PROBLEMS

JUDGE'S CLOSE INTEREST

The second trial of William Perry Hollings, formerly in practice in Wellington as a solicitor, on a charge of theft of a client's money, should conclude" this afternoon. Hollings entered the witness-box this morning and gave lengthy evidence in examination-in-chief. Cross-examination by Mr. C. Evans-Scott, who is appearing for the Crown, had not been completed when the Court adjourned for lunch. His Honour Mr. Justice Ostler is presiding and Mr. R. Hardio Boys is defending Hollings. A mass of accountancy evidence has been given, and many statements and account books are being consulted. Hollings, cross-examined concerning journal entries, repeated Ms assertion that he raroly made entries until months after the dates of transactions. "May I pass this journal over to you, your Honour?" asked Hollings. His Honour assented, but then said: "I'll come over to you." Tho Judge thereupon left his seat and leaned over the bench to the witness-box in order that he might follow in detail tho references to tho journal entries. "Didn't the auditor draw your attention to the undated journal entries?" his, Honour inquired later when Hollings said that often ho did not date his entries. "No, Sir. Ho used to say I was a pretty rough bookkeeper!' '• replied accused. Since 1925 T he repeated, he had always followed the same practice of journal entries. Mr. Evans-Scott: Didn't it occur to you to get an accountant? —Yos, frequently. Yet • you preferred to leave your books in a muddled condition?—My brother thought I could keep the books. I wish to heavens I had got an accountant! I wouldn't bo here other-