THEFTS FROM BUTCHER

Grey River Argus, 22 September 1936, Page 2

THEFTS FROM BUTCHER

By Debt Collector OFFENCES AT GREYMOUTH. Appearing on remand, Edward John Hill, agent, aged 31, was charged in the Magistrate’s Court before Air. 11. Morgan, S.M., yesterday, that, on December 19, 1933, at. Greymouth and on divers dates between that, day and March 19th, 1934, he did steal divers sums of money totalling £7l/13/.4d, the property of Francis George Cooper. Detective-Sergeant H E. Knight prosecuted. Francis George Cooper, butcher, Albert. Street, Greymouth, said that ho had been in business for many years and knew accused well. Towards the end of 1933, accused approached witness about collecting debts for witness. Accused was then running a debt collecting agency. Witness gave accused a number of debts to collect and he accounted for the money he collected. In December, 1933, accused approached witness regarding the keeping of witness’s books, and he agreed to accused doing this at so much per week; also to collect, accounts. Accused was to bank all money and outgoings were to be paid by cheque drawn from the bank. When witness gave accused money lie gave witness a receipt, and kept a duplicate. From December, 1933 to 1934, his banking account, was at the Bank of New South Wales, and he expected all monies collected by accused to be paid into that, banking account; likewise into the Commercial Bank from December, 1934. Witness’s books were in the possession of accused and did not come into witness’s possession until accused left for Wellington in June. He then placed the books in Mr. Souter’s hands for investigation. As a result of Air. Souter’s investigation, witness made a complaint to the. police and later laid an information charging accused with the theft of £7.1/13/4, which was the amount, of money collected from witness. and he had failed to account for

Witness cross-examined by accused, said that he never saw the books until June of this year. They never came into his possession until June. Accused shifted into a room in witness’s building about Christmas last. No doubt witness could have seen the books at any time if he wanted to. Accused: You didn’t want to see them? I didn’t trouble about seeing them.

“From December, 1933, did I bank monies in Mrs. Cooper’s Post Office Book on your instructions I ?’’ Occasionally you did.’’ “How much would be banked in Mrs. Cooper’s account by me?’’ 1 couldn’t say exactly, but there are some cheques there to counteract that.’’ “How much approximately’’’ “I can 't say off-hand, hut there were several cheques written out to counteract it. It wouldn’t be £2o.’’

“Was there any petty cash hook kept from December 1933?” I think so. I never saw one,’’

“There was no petty cash book kept?" “Not to my knowledge.’’ “You say that all payments were made by cheques? “Yes.’’ “Does that include cartage, groceries, etc?’’ “The groceries came out of my own wages.’’ “You say I approached yon regarding keeping the books. Didn’t you approach me with regard to negotiating with Hannan and Seddon to have a summons issued against you for £45 for legal fees adjourned so as “not to let the Court know you were getting this insurance?’’ No, you approached me about, it and said you would see about an adjournment as you were keeping my books. Prior to accused taking over the books, witness stated that lie used to put most, of the takings into the bank, and he used the balance for household purposes.

“Yon say definitely that yon have never taken money out of the till to pay anything for the house?’’ No, not since you took over the books in 1933.” “From December. 1933, to May, 1934, did you ever go without your wages?” “No.” The Deteetive-Sergehnt: After accused took over your books, all monies were handed to him for which he gave you a receipt?” “Yes.” “And this £7l/13/4, is a deficiency in the money banked as against the receipts?” “Yes.” Eric Souter, public accountant and Auditor, Greymouth, said that on instructions from F. G. Cooper, he examined the business cash book relating to his butchery business and compared them with the bank book. From December 1933 to February, 1934, the account was at the Bank of New South Wales, when accused collected £444 16/6, and banked £387/16/66, leaving £56/9/10 not accounted for. From February 28, 1934 to May 19, 1934, the account was at the Commercial Bank. During that time there were seven amounts collected totalling £l5/3/6, which was not banked, making a total deficiency of £7l/13/4. Detective-Sergeant 11. E. Knight, said that in consequence of a complaint received from Cooper witness obtained a warrant and accused was arrested in Wellington on September 11th and remanded to appear at Greymffuth on September 18. Accused was further remanded and accused was again released on bail. Accused came to see witness and intimated that it was his intention to plead guilty to the charge as laid After being warned that he was in no way obliged to do this he still stated that he wanted to make a statement pleading guilty. Tn his statement'to the police accused said' that he was guilty of the offence and intended to plead guilty to the charge as laid Covering the period that this money was taken, the period from December, 1933 to May 1934, he was in financial trouble and took this money from Cooper’s business intending to repay the amount taken when he was in a position to do so He had never recovered his position and had not the money to at the present time to repay the money taken from Cooper. lie had a permanent position in Wellington his present employer had and was aware of the position he was now in and had given accused to understand that he was prepared to employ him in spite of this. He had a child of two years of age dependent on him at Wellington and if given a ehance he was prepared to repay the money named in the charge against him from his earnings and to also maintain myself and child. His wife, was dead and the child was solely dependent on him for support. Accused had nothing to say and pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence.

Accused asked that he be dealt with by the Supreme Court at Wellington,

the reason being that his employer could give evidence. Accused was committed for sentence at the next sitting of the Supremo Court at Wellington, the bail of £5O being renewed, with one surety of £5O, accused to report daily to the police either at Greymouth or Wellington.