THE CHARGES AGAINST DEAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9452, 24 August 1889, Page 5

THE CHARGES AGAINST DEAN.

[by TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Friday. Last evening it was decided to proceed today with the hearing of some of the many charges preferred against C. F. Dean, late Town Clerk and Treasurer of the Thames Borough, and accordingly, at 10 o'clock this morning, the proceedings commenced before Mr. H. W. Northcroft, R.M. The Court was crowded, and great public interest was evinced in the case. Mr. Hudson Williamson, Crown Prosecutor, conducted the case for the prosecution. Sergeant Gillies was also present. Dean, who appeared somewhat careworn, having been placed in the dock, the first three charges were read over, setting forth that he did, on the 19th of October, 1888, whilst in the

employ of the Council as treasurer, steal, take, and carry away—(l) £14 4s belonging to the borough ; (2) £11 18s, on the 27th of October ; (3) £4 14s, on the 3rd of November, 1888; the three being indictable offences.

Mr. Hudson Williamson said that there were a number of charges against Dean of misappropration of moneys both in his capacity as town clerk and treasurer to the Borough Council, and secretary and treasurer to the Harbour Board. It was not intended, however, to trouble His Worship with many of them, as only a few would be put before the Court. This would ensure the accused's committal to the Supreme Court, the criminal sessions of which commenced early next month. It was possible that other charges would then be laid against Dean. He was now charged with stealing various sums of money belonging to the Borough Council and Harbour Board, evidence regarding which would be called to-day. There were four classes of cases against accused, (1) larceny of the Borough funds ; (2) forgery of the Borough receipts ; (3) larceny of Harbour Board fund ; and (4) forging of Harbour Boards vouchors and receipts. Mr. Williamson then detailed the evidence he in-

tended to adduce.

Evidence for the prosecution was given by Mr. Patrick Mclntyre, Councillor Renshaw, Councillor McAndrew, Charles Fenton, Wm. Lawrie, and Roderick McDougall, which showed that McDougall had one work cntiting him to £4 143, but the three amounts bad been charged for as set forth in the three informations, and obtained by moans of forging the signatures of McDougall, Lawrie (borough turncock), and the chairman of the Finance Committee.

The accused was then cautioned in the usual way, in response to which he said, " I beg to apply for permission to examine every book and paper connected with these charges made against mo, so that I may be able to produce rebutting evidence at the Supreme Court. I make this application to the Court. I make no defence in this Court, which I reserve for the Supreme Court, but I can't make any defence unless I have the books to look through." Mr. Williamson said it was news to him that Dean had ever been refused permission to sec the books. Instead of looking through the books and accounts, however, tho accused had taken a trip to Norfolk Island, where he was apprehended. Accused replied that he had applied in writing to see the books. He had not a penny with which to conduct his defence, and would apply to have tho money found on him when he was arrested given back to him, so as to enable him to defend himself.

His Worship said that Dean could not expect that, as his own bond of £200 had been estreated. Had accused stopped here he would then have had the money to defend himself.

Accused was then committed on these three charges to bake his trial at the next sittings of the Auckland Supreme Court. Dean was then charged with having stolen : (1) £35 23 of the borough funds on the 12th April, ISSO ; (2) £10 9a on tho 22nd May, 1889; and (3) £4 18s on the 15th December, 1888. The evidence for tho prosecution having been concluded, Dean was again asked if he wished to say anything, when he repeated that in order to make his defenco at tho Supreme Court, it was necessary for him to have access to all the books and papers connected with the charges against him. Mr. Purchas, on behalf of the accused,

made an application that the money which was found on the person of the latter when ho was arrested at Norfolk Island should be returned to him, to be set apart for his defence.

His Worship refused the application for the satno reason that ho had stated before to the accused liimself when making the same request. Tho accused was then committed for trial on these charges at) the Supreme Court. Other charges were then proceeded with as follows, upon each of which Dean was committed for trial, making twelve in all: —Forgery, £17 5s Bd, borough funds, 14th July, 1888 ; larceny, £6 17s 6d, Harbour Board funds, 25th February, 1889 : larceny, £13 lis Bd, Harbour Board funds, Bth July, 1889; larceny, £12 Bs, Harbour Board funds, Bth November, 18S8; forgery, £15 Is (kl, borough funds, Ist September, ISBB ; forgery, £5 6s 9d, Harbour Board funds, 2nd March, 1889. There arc other charges pending against Dean, but it is unlikely that they will be proceeded with here. At a late hour this evening the Court adjourned until tomorrow, when tho witnesses in the charges already heard will be bound over. Dean will be sent on to Mount Eden Gaol by the Rotomahana on Monday morning, there to await his trial at tho criminal sessions of the Supremo Court.