CHARGE OF THEFT

Nelson Evening Mail, 29 May 1916, Page 2

CHARGE OF THEFT

fUnited Press Association.', HASTINGS, May 26. Sydney Martell, land andi commission agent, Hastincrs, ex-manager and secretary of the Hastings Fruit and Cold Storage Co., was to-day committed for trial on a charge of stealing £l9l 17s 3d. the property of the company. Peculiar .interest attaches to the case, as j the transaction was plainly recorded' in the company's ibooks 1 . The sum involved was used by Martell for the purchase of a motor car. Martell filled in the company's signed blank cheque and l debited the amount to his own salary account. At a later' date, without, it is alleged, any express authority from the directors, he caused to be opened in the company's books a motor car account, to which he transferred the debit," at the same time crediting hi.* salary account with the amount. Further - charges acrainst Martell are of stealing, on cr about Mav 25th. 1915, the sum of £100: on "June 28th, 1915. £ls; and between Janua-rv 19th. 1915, and May 25th. 1915. £24 6s ld ; , these moneys being the property of the company The following epigram "was perpetrated by: a brilliant pupil, J. K. Stephen, npon the celebrated! professor, Oscar i Browning, who was somewhat inclined J to corpulency: i 0. 8., oh, be obedient t To Nature's stern decree : | For though you-be but one O. 8., • You may be too obese.