STATE FUNDS STOLEN

Hawera Star, Volume L, 5 March 1931, Page 5

STATE FUNDS STOLEN

COLLIERY CLERK’S THEFTS. CONVICTION BY JURY. ay Tcicgvapb— Press Association.) iGIKEYMOUTH, March 4. Frank Brace, formerly chief clerk ol the State collieries at Dunollie, was charged in the Supremo Court that between February 6 and Decemoer 22, 1930. at Dunollie, he committed the theft of sums totalling £433 15s 2d, monies of the New Zealand Government. He pleaded not guilty. Janies Butler, Government audit inspector, stated that lie conducted an audit in October, 1929, at the mine office, Brace being then chief clerk, trustee and receiver. The books were in order in 1929. On December 3 last witness commenced a further audit, balancing off on December 19. A shortage of £l9 10s was discovered on December 22. The shortage amounted to £336 14s lOd. A payment to McGrath of £7 9s 9d would bring the amount of the deficiency to £426 5s lOd, which amount had been paid into the public account except for the amount of £ i 9s 4d in dispute. The system on which defalcations were conducted was known as “outward holding over,” cheques being shown in the return as drawn on the last day of November, whereas they were not actually drawn until December 1. T . ' Evidence was also given by 1. A. James. State mines superintendent, William Goumbe and others of the staff. ... The jury returned a verdict oi guilty, with a recommendation to leniency in view of the fact that restitution had been made and that the prisoner was in ill-health and had a previous good character. Sentence was deferred till Friday. T . Lionel George Hood and John Joseph Morris were convicted on a charge of receiving a quantity of jewellery, knowing the same to have been stolen from the shop of John Tennent, jeweller, Greymouth. The jury acquitted the accused on the charge of breaking, entering and theft of jewellery. Sentence was deferred till to-morrow.