CLERK'S DEFALCATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16620, 17 August 1917, Page 6

CLERK'S DEFALCATIONS.

COMMITTAL FOR SENTENCE.

A clerk, John Ledez (Dr. Bamford), who was employed in the traffic inspector's office of the Auckland City Council, was charged in the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., that being a servant of the City Council he received £49 12s 7d and fraudulently omitted to account for it.

1 Hugh Wylie, Government audit-inspec- . tor who at present is engaged on the yearly audit of the council's books, said part of accused's duty was' to j issue receipts for licenses and other i sources of revenue, and to pay the money I received to the city treasurer each day. On August 8 witness found irregularities fin accused's books, extending over a ! period of three months. Witness formed | the opinion that accused had been workI ing a system of borrowing cash received i and making it good out of subsequent When asked for an explanation accused freely admitted that he had used the money, and made no attempt to hide his faults or hamper the investigation. The irregularities were certain to have been discovered unless the money had been repaid. About £5000 would pass through accused's hands in the course of a year. Detective Cullen said that when arrested accused said : "Yes, I took the money. I intended paying it back.'" Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Sourt for sentence. Bail in one surety of £75 was allowed.