Accountant Faces Court on 32 Charges

Horowhenua Chronicle, 3 May 1934, Page 8

Accountant Faces Court on 32 Charges

THEFT AND FORGERY ALLEGED. CHRISTCHUECH, Last Night. In the Supreme Court, Leslie Cecil Johnson, formerly an accountant and organiser of the Gold Band Taxi Coy., Wellington, faced 24 charges of theft of moneys totalling £426 belonging to the proprietor of the company, Mr. C. S. Trillo, and eight for forgery. The Crown alleged that Johnson obtained possession of the bank pass pook and, in addition, had blank cheques which were signed by the proprietor and which were used to pay other accounts. Then, it is alleged, to cover up his tracks accused forged and so defrauded the company. The prosecutor said Mr. Trillo had previously borrowed various sums from accused, and now owed him £l5O, but any contention that accused was using | this means to regain the money lent to Mr. Trillo could not be sustained. Mr. Trillo was unacquainted with office procedure, and adopted the most dangerous of all practices, that of signing blank cheques. Accused took advantage of these, methods and adopted a crude, primitive system of theft which would not have lasted a week in a well-conducted offico. Several witnesses were called by the Crown, and several more are still to be' called. The case is part heard.