A ROAD BOARD CLERK IN TROUBLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12278, 23 May 1903, Page 7

A ROAD BOARD CLERK IN TROUBLE.

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

At the Police Court yesterday, William Latta, Lockhart, clerk to the Otahuhu Road Board, was charged with the embezzlement of ten sums of money, totalling £22 4s 7d, the property of the Otahuhu Road Board. ChiefDetective Grace prosecuted, and Mr. J. C. Martin appeared for the accused.

Alfred Sturges, chairman of the Otahuhu Road Board, deposed that accused had been employed as clerk and collector to that body. His salary was £25 per annum, and a commission of 5 per cent, on all rates collected. Accused did not attend a recent meeting of tho Board, and from something that witness heard he requested the Government auditor to examine the books. By Mr. Martin: Accused had since paid in to the Board's credit all moneys duo to the Board, less an amount in tho possession of the police. The audit showed that it was only during the month of April that anything wrong was discovered. Accused was a married man, with several children, and had been in the service of the Board for 13 years. He had a great deal of sickness in his family of late, and one of the children was run over on St. Patrick's Day. During the month of April accused gave way to intemperance. From witness' knowledge of accused he did not think that accused had any intention of appropriating the funds of the Board. The information was laid because they understood that accused was going to Fiji, and as the boat was leaving they had no time to lose. The Board did not wish to prosecute, or to go on with tho prosecution. Mr. Martin remarked that the Board laid the information in the first place. Evidence was given by several settlers as to payment of various small sums for rates to the accused during the months of March and April last. Arthur Bethune, audit inspector, said that on making an audit of the books it was found that £61 12s 4d w*s unaccounted for, and that there was no record of the amounts shown to have been paid by tho receipts produced by previous witnesses. No entry had been made since December, nor had any cash been paid into the bank to the Board's credit during April.

By Mr. Martin: Accused gave witness every assistance in making the audit, and was awaiting witness" arrival at Otahuhu. Witness was aware that accused was not expected to give his whole time to the business of the Board, and that it was not an uncommon thing for road board clerks to write up their cash books at long intervals of time. Detective Kennedy said that when arrested accused had sums totalling £21 7s 5d in his possession.

Mr. Martin asked if there was any case to go before a jury. Accused was never asked to account for the money, and was merely apprehended because there was a rumour that he was going away. The money not accounted for had since been waid into the credit of the Board. Accused reserved his defence, ©leading not guilty and was committed for "trial. Bail was allowed accused in two sureties of £100 each, and in his own recognisance of £100.