TRUST MONEY.

Grey River Argus, 11 July 1922, Page 6

TRUST MONEY.

.ALLEGED FALSE DECLARATION.. AUCKLAND, July 10. As a sequel to the bankruptcy of the local firm of llemmoml and Cracknell, three charges of having made false declarations in respect of that firm’s trust account were preferred at the police court against Jas Waring Jamieson. The evidence showed that accused had forwarded the officer in charge of the audit of solicitors trust account, a certificate marked “audited and found correct,” with a declaration to jthe •effect that the certificates were true and correct reports. Accused had never made a report to the Solicitor-Gen-eral in accordance with Section 11 of the Act. An accountant gave evidence that the trust account books wore kept in such a fashion that it was possible at any time to ascertain the substantial position of the trust funds. There had been a deficiency in the trust account since March, 1916. There were certain irregularities; money having been advanced to clients out of trust funds without provision. Interest had been paid on the money in hand, while the books also showed that the partners had overdrawn their juofits, the overdrawings coming out of the trust funds. Had a schedule of the trust balances been extracted and compared with the bank balance at any time during 1916, the trust account would have shown a deficiency. The Official Assignee said the deft- : ciency in the (‘.state was about £45000, nearly all the claims being for trust moneys. Accused pleaded not guilty, and reserved his defence. He was committed ! for trial, bail being allowed at £lOO. ;