CHARGE OF FRAUD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15390, 27 August 1913, Page 7

CHARGE OF FRAUD.

ROAD BOARD'S FINANCES.

FORMER CLERK IN COURT.

CASE FOR PROSECUTION.

At the Supreme Court yesterday Alexander Gore Brett (Mr. W. E. Moore), late clerk to the Eden Terrace Road Board, was charged with having defrauded the board between September, 1912, and July, 1913, of the sum of £237 19s lid. The accused pleaded not guilty. The Hon. J. A. Tole, in opening the case for tho Crown, said that the frauds, which had been discovered by the auditor of the board's accounts, had been accomplished by means of duplicate receipt books. When first questioned about any defalcations the accused denied all knowledge of the affair. But when the duplicate receipt books were discovered he confessed to having converted tho sum of about £180 to his own use. The accused excused his conduct b v saving that there had beer systematic robbery from the till. Rather than let the board imagine that he might 'be concerned in this robbery the accused attempted to hush the matter up by utilising the board's funds. The accused subsequently made a confession of his defalcations, and presented a cheque of £180 to the board. / Evidence in support of counsel's statement concerning the defalcations was given by members of the Eden Terrace Road Board, and by Cyril G. Collins, who audited the accounts. The latter said that the accused had confessed to him that ho had been using duplicate receipt books because of the robbery from the till, which lie was afraid to report in case suspicion, fell upon himself. _ The case was adjourned until this morning.