ALLEGED THEFT OF MONEYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12229, 26 March 1903, Page 7

ALLEGED THEFT OF MONEYS.

A COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER

CHARGED. A. further development in connection with the recent firo at Messrs. John lleid and Co.'s premises, in Fort-street, was made at the Police Court on Wednesday morning, when Gordon Bruce Matheson, a well-known commercial traveller, was charged before Messrs. ¥. G. Clayton and A. Clements, J.P.'s, on two informations laid by Detective Henderson, that he did, or or about February2o, 1903, then being the servant of John Reid, steal the respective sums of 12s 6d and £1 17s, the moneys of the said John Reid. Detective Henderson applied for a remand for a week, and Mr. T. Cotter, who appeared for the accused, offered no objection, stating that accused was only arrested on Tuesday night, and that he had not had time to go into the matter. The remand was granted as asked for, and bail allowed accused in one surety of £25.

At a later stage, Mr. Blair, acting for the Hon. J. A. Tolo (Crown Solicitor), appeared in Court, and asked that the question of bail bo reopened. He said the offence with which the accused was charged was ens punishable by a sentence not exceeding 14 years' imprisonment, and pointed out that the bail was fixed at too small an amount. Mr. Blair went on to say that the charge had arisen through an audit being made of Messrs. John lleid and Co.'s books, which were recently attempted to be destroyed by fire, the outcome being a charge made against another person. • Evidently the attempt had been made- to destroy the books for the purpose of preventing an audit. These charges were not all that were intended to be brought against Matheson, and the bail fixed, he submitted, would bo quite inadequate, considering the charges laid against him and which might bo laid against him.

Mr. Cotter objected to statements of this kind being made. Mr. Blair said he was not prepared to lay other charges at the present time. It was known that the man was not in. Auckland at the time the fire occurred. The Bench said if a fresh charge was laid they would hear an objection to the bail, but did not think it right to entertain it now.

Mr. Blair said that if a further charge was laid now it would be premature, and so pre judice the case as to interfere with the course of justice. He again reiterated that considering the penalty the bail allowed was inadequate, and added that the element of a theft as a servant made the offence en tirely a different one to that of ordinary theft.

Mi% Cotter said another man was arrested on a similar charge, and Matheson was subpoenaed as a witness. The prosecution had been asked if Matheson was required after he had attended the Court on four occasions, and had replied that they could not see what he was wanted for. Tho next thing that was heard of was his arrest, and he (Mr. Cotter) thought it unfair that because the prosecution were not prepared to go on with their caso they should ask for an adjournment, with a prohibitive bail. Mr. Blair said that he would accept a bond for a large amount only, as the theft was a breach of trust, and differed from a straightout theft. The Bench : We cannot deal with the application now. You should have been here at tho proper time. Mr. Blair: Very well, Your "Worships will accept the responsibility.