PASTOR SENT FOR TRIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17483, 29 May 1920, Page 2 (Supplement)

PASTOR SENT FOR TRIAL.

I ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD. «. ... I-. _____ j," ".'-■■ ■*? | MONEY FOR SOLDIERS'' WIVES. 'That he had systematically robbed the } wives of soldiers was one oi the allega- ;"' lions made against a minister, well-known \ in South Wales, during the investigation .of a sensational case at Pontypool. j Accused is the Rev. Charles Edmond Luton, formerly pastor of .he Jerusalem 1 Baptist Church, Crumlin: He was " accused of forgery and the embezzlement of money entrusted to him by the Ministry of Pensions, nine charges being preferred, involving a sum of about £200. Mr. Horace Lyne, prosecuting, explained that Luton was at one time a voluntary distributor under the Prince of Wales's Fund, and later dealt with supplementary separation allowance under the Abertillery Pensions Committee. He acted more or less in a consultative capacity, aud the committee followed his advice in a number of cases. .As pensions officer for the district he was entrusted with money to pay to soldiers' wives on behalf of the Ministry of Pensions. Three wives, and a total of £200 were concerned in the charges framed, but, went on Mr. Lyne, already items had been traced which brought the total involved up to. about £2000, and it was *' getting worse." In October, 1918, paid distributors were appointed and accused's services were dispensed ' with. Captain Maurice Pugh, Ministry of Pensions auditor for the Welsh region, paid a surprise visit of investigation ,'on; January, 2, and his attention was directed to one signature on the pay sheet which aroused his supicions. He went closely into the accounts and saw defendant, who was subsequently arrested. Defendant made the following statement: ■ '" I admit that money came through for Mrs. Prosser and others after the date on

which money should have been stopped, Z, but I continued to receive it. and paid it - to deserving cases of soldiers' and sailors' w dependents/' " Defendant's salary as a minister at Jerusalem Church was only 27s per week ; hut-when his house was searched £300 in Gash was discovered and title deeds of •' property purchased in December, 1918, for £250.:;. | Two bank pass books,- showing credit balances of £163 and £65. were also found.*2T The method accused usually adopted was not to allow the women to »• see what they were signing for, but with '■:. regard to some of the larger amounts, l" - ,' the prosecution alleged that, instead of H stopping payment at the proper time, he ■* continued to -receive money shown on the i pay sheet. Sheets had been signed t in the names of people, whose periods for -"" payment- had lapsed. In one case ha Z used two separate addresses, making out % that there were two recipients instead of *2j one. In.another instance there was a g bogus claim, and defendant put the money t| into his own pocket, Luton forged the H signatures r of recipients and converted the ?i money to bis own use. Several soldiers' f£ wives and widows gave evidence in supg- port of Mr. Lyne's statement: | Captain Pngh, Regional Auditor for | Wales, on behalf of the Ministry of ~ Pensions, stated that -when challenged $ defendant told him lie took the money 4 because he was hard up. He also atZ tempted to bribe . witness to hush up the |j matter, But he refused to accept anything. 55 Mr. Everett, for prisoner: I put it to 'I you that is a wicked lie. ;: Witness: It is true, *He added that the signatures on the pay-sheets were in the handwriting of prisoner. Occasionally . he had -written with his left hand. ,_ * Luton was committed to Monmouthshire Assizes, bail being, refused. j