ACCOUNTANT CHARGED

Evening Star, Issue 21709, 2 May 1934, Page 11

ACCOUNTANT CHARGED

THEFT AND FORGERY ALLEGED [P«B UjnTED Fbess Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, May 2. Iu the Supremo Court to-day Leslie Cecil Johnson, formerly accountant and organiser of the Gold Band Taxi Company, faced twenty-four charges of the theft of moneys totalling £426, belonging to the proprietor of the company (C. S. Trillo), and eight charges of forgery. For the Crown it was alleged that Johnson obtained possession of a bank pass book, and, in addition, had blank cheques which were signed by the proprietor and which were used to pay other accounts. Then, it was alleged, to cover up his tracks the accused forged receipts, and so defrauded the company. The Crown Prosecutor said that Trillo had previously borrowed various sums from the accused, and now owed him £l5O, but any contention that the accused was using this means to regain the money lent to Trillo could not t|e sustained. Trillo was unacquainted with office procedure, and had adopted the most dangerous of all practices—that of-signing blank cheques. The accused took advantage of these methods and adopted a crude and primitive system of theft which would not. have lasted a week in a well-conducted office. The case is proceeding.