BANK MANAGER’S FRAUD

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 October 1930, Page 2

BANK MANAGER’S FRAUD

THREE YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT. YASS (N.S.W.), September 22. At tho Quarter Sessions, before Judge W. T. Coyle, Robert Hawthorne Rodger, late manager of the Yass branch of the Union Bank, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, with hard labour. Rodger was charged with having received two sums of £46/16/ and £l6/10/ upon terms requiring him to pay the same to Horace Alfred Pearce and others, and that he fraudulently misappropriated the money to his own use, in violation of the terms on which he received it. Mr F. W. Derne (instructed by Howard, Phillips, and Co.) appeared for accused. Captain P. V. Storkey, V.C., was Crown Prosecutor. Accused pleaded not guilty.

In outlining the Crown case, Captain Storkey said that the accused was the sole executor of the C. F. Pearce estate. An account was opened by the executor in the name of the estate, and another account was opened in the Government Savings Bank for dealing with money received, h. would be shown that there were two passbooks, and one of these was absolutely false. That, book would show a balance of money in hand to tho credit of the estate in the bank ledger. That, passbook was used for the purpose of probate, and received the stamp of the Supreme Court.

Evidence showed that discrepancies in the estate’s funds amounted to £1645/0/10.

Rodger, in a long statement from the dock, said he was 42 years of age and had had 26 years’ banking experience. He came to Yass to establish a new branch, and was put to heavy expenses. He could not save money, and had promissory notes in Queensland falling due. He admitted taking the money to pay these. He had no intention of defrauding the estate. He expected a legacy of £2OOO from his foster father in England, and intended to pay it back. Subsequently he found out that the legacy was worth nothing. In despair, he used a further £5OO from the estate to try and recover his losses on the rqcecoiirae. In summing up, his Honor said: “It is a story that many people might believe, and more would not.” Accused, ho said, had sent some of the money to that hope of many and grave of thousands, the racecourse. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on both counts after retiring for two bourse and a-half. The 4jiry also made a strong recommendation to mercy.