Hidden Record

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 159, 8 July 1938, Page 10

Hidden Record

EMBEZZLEMENT AND FORGERY. SYDNEY, Juno 30. A director of a fashionable Arm of Sydney men's outfitters received the "shock of his life" when, after the company’s trusted accountant and secretary had been found guilty at the Quarter Sessions of embezzlement and forgery, the Court was informed that tho prisoner had a list of convictions under a number of aliases from 191], with sentences aggregating nearly ten years. Horace Sydney Jolly, aged SS, was tho convicted mar. He had been charged with three counts of embezzlement from Richard Hunt and Company, Pty., Ltd., and one of forgery. The caso against him was that he misappropriated tho proceeds of cheques for £49 8s 3d, £7 4s 6d, and £33 16s, sent to the firm to discharge accounts, for which Jolly issued receipts without taking carbon copies for the company's records. On the forgery charge it was alleged that Jolly procured tho signature of George Bertinshaw, a director of the company, to a cheque for £8 9s to pay certain accounts, and by fraudulently altering tho handwriting on the face of the cheque, altered the amount to £BO 9s, applying tho difference to his own purposes. The jury took six hours to reach its verdict. Jolly having then been found guilty, tho gaol Recorder read out his list of convictions. Jolly was convicted in Melbourne, Freemantle, Perth, Wagga, Adelaide and Sydney for false pretences, stealing, embezzlement and forgery. Mr George Bertinshaw, in an interview, said that Jolly was chosen as accountant and secretary to his firm from a list of applicants with high qualifications in accountancy. He held the position from July, 1937, to February, 1938. Jolly presented credentials from a Melbourne firm, and he was also interviewed by a leading Sydney firm of accountants, who recommended his engagement. "He had such an engaging personality," added Mr Bertinshaw, "that wc had no hesitation in appointing him to a very responsible position, and it was with amazement that I heard his list of convictions."