STOLE FROM EMPLOYEE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18175, 22 August 1922, Page 8

STOLE FROM EMPLOYEE.

AN ACCOUNTANT'S LAPSE.

LARGE SUM INVOLVED.

FULL CONFESSION MADE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NAPIEE. Monday. J At the Hastings Police Court this morning, Montague Thomas Sabine Parley, accountant for Messrs. Hoadley, Son, and Stewart, Ltd., who created a sensation a few- days ago by giving himself up to the police, appeared on remand, and was charged on seven counts with theft from the firm of Hoadley, Son, and Stewart, Ltd., while in the firm's employ. The sums totalled £471 13s 3d, over a period of six months. Harrv Norman Stewart, managing director, stated that the accused had been in his employ at Hastings for the past 13 years. His salary during the last three or four years- had been £450 per year. Accused was in charge of the firm's books, and he would receive all moneys paid to the firm. On Monday, August 14, witness told the accused that an auditor was coming to go through the ledger before final entries were made in connection with the annual balancesheet. On hearing this the accused seemed vory perturbed, and said that he had a terrible confession to make. Witness took the accused to his office, and there the accused said there were defalcations in the company's bocks, and that he had been embezzling from the company for a period of 11 years. Accused said that he intended to make, a confession previously, but owing to witness being seriousfy ill he considered the shock would be too .much for him. Accused gave details *»f the different amounts taken by him. Witness conferred with one of the directors And the company's auditor, Mr. Butlor Accused was instructed to go to Mr. Butler's office and point oat how the defalcations had been perpetrated. Accused stated that as far as the company's clienta wore concerned all the accounts and payments were in order, the company itself being the only victim of the defalcations. Accused said ho would give every assistance, and he had helped in every way. A meeting of directors was immediately called, and the position placed before them, the result being that the accused was informed that he must give himself up to the police, otherwise he would be arrested.

John S. Butler, auditor, said the accused explained how he had taken the money. At the piescnt timo witness was not in a position to say what the total defalcations were, but ho was satisfied they were fairly heavy. Detective T. Fitzgibbon stated that at 9 a.m. on August 17 accused, in company with a solicitor, came to' the police station and admitted the defalcations. Ho said he wished to surrender himself. He was arrested and brought before the Court, from which he was remanded. On August 19 witness brought before the accused six other amounts received by him and not accounted for. Accused admitted converting this money to his own use, and made the following statement, which he signed:— " I wish to make this statement with a view to assisting the prosecution in the charges which are pending against me. On the dates hereinafter mentioned I received different amounts on behalf of the firm of Hoadley, Son and Stewart, and converted the money to my own use. On December 30, 1921, I received from James O'Neill the sum of £93 10s; on January 21, 1922, from Murray, Roberts and Co., £89 Is lOd; on January 31 from Leary and Co., £55 12s sd; on February 10 from W. H. Campbell, £24 14s j on March 14 from Welfwood and Co., £98 ss; on April 10 from H. M. Campbell, £34 10s; on July 29 from Thompson Bros., £76. All these amounts were received by me when acting in my capacity as accountant to the firm. Although the above amounts were paid in by cheque in each instance and the cheque was paid into the bank to the credit of the firm, the money I took was cash and in each case the amount tallied with the amount of the cheque as above mentioned. "I joined the firm 13 years ago. At that time I came from Wellington, where I left behind me several creditors who were pressing me for payment. About a year after joining the firm I commenced taking small amounts to pay off my creditors, and before I realised it found myself deeply involved. I continued on until I could bear the strain no longer. I should have given myself up 12 months ago only that Mr. Stewart, one of the managing directors, was very ill at the time and I was afraid the shock might kill him. I kept a private account of all my defalcations, and this I handed to the company's auditor. None of the money has been saved, but has been spent principally in gambling. I am a married man, with one daughter. During the last 12 years I had had a lot of sickness in the house. The amount of my defalcations is a very large sum." The accused pleaded guilty to all the charges and was committed to the Supremo Court at Napier to-morrow for sentence. Bail was allowed in £200 and two sureties of £100.