COURTS AND OFFENCES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 30 September 1926, Page 5

COURTS AND OFFENCES.

THEFT BY YOUNG WOMAN. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. • A young woman, aged 26, who was employed as a clerk by Kirkcaldie and Stains, Ltd., was charged in the Magistrate’s Court to-day with the thelt of £251 9s Bd, the property of the firm. Mr. Cornish represented the accused.

Edniund John Archibald, secretary of Kirkcaldie and Stains, gave evidence that the accused had been employed by the firm for the past eight years, it was previously the duty of the cashier to place refund money in sealed envelopes, but in practice this was done by the assistants. A'bout September 15 witness had occasion to question the accused in reg'ard to a refund which a customer stated had not been received. The accused’s explanation was not satisfactory, and no trace of the amount having been sent had been found in the postage book. Witness suspended the accused, and the following day she came to him and said that at various times she had stolen sums of money which had been entered as refund amounts sent to customers. The refunds were usually to country customers who had remitted: too much money for goods bought by them. The accused had made restitution of £l3O.

In reply to a question from Mr. Cornish witness said there would be a good chance of the accused obtaining a position from the firm again if she were placed on probation. Detective Bayliss said he had interviewed the accused, who had made a statement that she had done a, considerable amount of betting. The accused had given money to another employee of the firm to put on horses which she wished to back. She could not- see' how the money, she had taken could be traced. ' ■'

The accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was renewed. In view of the fact that the accused’s name had been suppressed previously, the Magistrate renewed the order. MOTORIST IN A HURRY. AUCKLAND, Sept. 29. An echo of a serious motor smash which occurred in Victoria Orescent, Newmarket, on August 13, was heard to-day at the Police Court, when Robert Rennie was charged with having driven a. motor-car at a dangerous speed. He pleadecT not .guilty and conducted his own case: After hearing the evidence, the magistrate, Mr. Hunt, said that Rennie was going too fast in that part-of the city. A man had been injured and had lain in hospital for some time just because of Rennie’s desire to rush into town.. Rennie would be fined £5 and costs £1 17s, and his license would be endorsed.