ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 9150, 9 July 1890, Page 6

ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT.

David Hastings Brown was charged yesterday morning on remand with embezzling sums of money the property of the Bank of New Zealand. The Bench consisted of Messrs J. P, Jameson, H. J. Hall, B. Curry, and F. J. Kimbell. Mr Fisher appeared to prosecute da j behalf of the Bank, and Mr J. Embling was in attendance. Mr Stringer appeared for the accused. Mr Fisher opened the first case, which charged accused with embezzling £97 3a Id, and called evidence as follows: James Embling, Inspector of. the Bank J of New Zealand, Christchurch, deposed t I know the Canterbury Eolier Mills. They were the property of the Bank since .Feb. 28, 1869. The stock of wheat , and flour was the property of the Bank also, and remained in" the bands of the > Bank till Feb. 1, 1890. Accused was manager for the former owner, and when the Bank took possession he remained manager. The Bank increased his salary from £4OO to £SOO, with a free house. The Bank ■ made an arrangement with Messrs Kaye and Carter to appear as nominal lessees of the Bank, they managing the clerical part of the business. The account at the Bank was called the "Canterbury Mills, operated by Kaye and Carter.” The account belonged to . the Bank of New Zealand. Accused knew that the Bank was carrying on the mills and that they were the Bank’s property. Patrick Hanraban, farmer and baker at , Ashburton, said: I bad 187 sacks of wheat . in the mill, principally Hunter’s White, for gristing. Accused appeared to charge Is a bushel for gristing, and he was to pay the railway freight from Dromore, and charge it to me. Accused gave mo an advance ■ of £lO6 5s on the wheat, and I was to ■ repay the loan as I took away the flour. Accused paid the £lO6 5s to my credit at the Bank. 1 made a first payment of £2O on account on Sept. 12,1889, when accused gave me the receipt produced in Ms own handwriting. I paid him another £2O ou Oat. 2, and on Oct. 26 £57 3s Id, and the ' balance on Dec. 4, viz., £7l 10s. I paid , these sums by cheque on the Bank of New . South Wales from my own account. They were all charged to me by the Bank. I took away the flour representing the 187 sacks of wheat, and sold no wheat to accused or the Canterbury Eolier Mills last. year. Did not know of any other Patrick Hanraban in the district. Frederick E. Watson, clerk in the Bank of New South Wales, Ashburton, produced a book containing Patrick Hanrahan’a account with the Bank, and four cheques, viz., Sept. 12,1889, for £2O j Oct. 2, £2O; Oct. 26, £57 3a Id j and Deo. 4, £7l 10a. The first one had been cashed over the ' counter to bearer. The second had been . paid to the credit of Mrs Brown in the name of Frances H. Brown. The other two cheques had also been similarly ‘ credited. He produced the Bank slips of the deposits, which were in Brown’s handwriting. . , Williaitt accountant for

came forward, and -was paid by chequeAccused had-not paid the difference of £4O 13s 6d, or in any way accounted for it. Accused was then formally committed for trial on this charge also. _ t Mr Stringer-applied for bail, -which was granted, accused in £IOO in each case, and two sureties of £SO each on each charge.