THEFTS OF STATE MONEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18460, 25 July 1923, Page 11

THEFTS OF STATE MONEY.

YOUNG CLERK'S OFFENCE. SUPERVISOR OF '■ OFFICE. [ill TELEGRAPH. OWN COB RESPONDENT.! ..- WELLINGTON-, Tuesday; . Defalcations. in' the finances .of the Labour Department. Wellington, resulted in the appearance, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court today, of a young clerk' named John > Craig /Neill, who was charged with the theft - as a servant of the New Zealand Government of £103 16s. ■- ; ; Chief-Detective. Kemp explained that ! the ' accused was about 26 years of age and was a single man. He entered the Government service in October, 1916. as a cadet, and in March, 1919, was appointed as clerk in charge, of the branch office at Te : Aro. : Defalcations :in the department's moneys were observed by Mr. Edward Scott Innes, Government audit inspector, -and Mr. H. T. Bailey, the officer in charge of.the .department, and it was finally ascertained that from early in this year until last month accused had stolen the amount mentioned in the charge. ' Mr. H. T. Bailey, officer in charge of the Labour Department, Wellington, said that at the time of his"arrest the accused was the officer in charge of the district office at Te Arc He had three assistants;' and it was his duty to. supervise the clerical work. The accused was an exceptionally competent man, and in a letter to : witness following : inquiries ; concerning the defalcations he admitted his guilt, and stated that he had honed■ to be able to pay, back the money. He also stated his intention ■ of .giving- himself up to the police on that particular afternoon. :iV : ; ;To Mr. Scott: The accused was an excellent officer and had seen considerable war service. He had been under the personal supervision of witness since March, 1922. .".'*•■■ • '- •■ , Evidence was also given by the audit inspector," who said' that ; /fche internal check of the finances was.-good: This was .shown.; by the fact that the [accused was covering up his, actions, - and that the defalcations were discovered within three months. ■ *■ ' ■■ ■. •■ ■• ■■> ■ ?> ■, '■ /"-.' ; Detective Murch : vstated that accused surrendered; himself to the police and made a signed statement -in admission of his guilt. t All '•: the .money had subsequently been repaid to the" department; ,: The accused, on behalf of whom a plea of guilty : was entered by-Mr'.' J. A. Scott, was committed to the" Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was not allowed. . : .