CASE AGAINST SEAMAN

Evening Star, Issue 19386, 21 October 1926, Page 13

CASE AGAINST SEAMAN

A CHARGE OF THEFT [Pek United Press Association.] PALMERSTON N., October 20. At the Police Court to-day Herbert Gurney, aged a seaman, was charged, on remand, with the theft of £220 in money, the property of the Palmerston North Borough Council. Maurice James Strange, a cashier employed by the Borough Council, said that prior to noon on September 22 he made up the cash to bo banked in the afternoon, leaving it on going _ to lunch in two bundles, one containing £220 in notes. This latter had been loft behind the cash register, where it would have been in full view of anyone at the public counter. During witness s absence Newsou, another cashier, had been in charge of the office. Newsou told witness on his return at 1 o clock that ho had found a man behind the counter. Witness then ascertained that £220 was missing. Ernest Edward Newson stated that from noon till 1 p.m, he had been in solo charge of the public office. _At about 12.15 he had occasion to go into the main office, and whilst there ho heard a thud from his own office, which caused him to return there. Ho found behind the counter a man whom ho recognised as the present accused. Witness asked him what ho was doing there, and lie had been told by accused that ho was looking for work. Being asked for his name ho replied “Gurney.” Witness had gone into the main office to acquaint someone ot the position, and on returning in a minute’s time ho found that accused had disappeared. Witness noticed the bundle of mono}' and cheques made up by Strange, and had gone on with his work. Later, on Strange’s return, witness learnt that another bundle of notes had disappeared. Nobody had any right to bo behind the counter in the public office except employees. There was a high grille attached to the counter. "Witness could only assume that when accused vaulted over this he had taken the money. Arthur Norman Shapleski, aged nineteen, a laborer, said ho met, accused on September 22, and they had looked for work together. Accused went into the borough office by himself, and on coming out reported that he had met with no success. The pair then decided to walk to Wellington. "When or seven miles out of Palmerston North accused left witness for some time. Accused later gave witness over £2, and told him that at the borough offices he had jumped over the counter and had found nobody there, but that a clerk had come out and had spoken to him. Constable Kearney said that accused, on being arrested in Wellington, admitted that ho jumped over the counter, but deified having taken the money. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed foe trial.