WRONGFUL CONVERSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18549, 6 November 1923, Page 7

WRONGFUL CONVERSION.

GOVERNMENT MONEYS USED.

FINANCIAL STRESS PLEADED.

A charge of having converted Government moneys totalling £55 7s 3d to his own use, resulted in the appearance at the Police Court yesterday before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., of Everard Storrs Braithwaite, aged 23. A plea of guilty was entered.' The young, man was employed in the Land and Drainage Branch of the Lands and Survey Department; and latterly had been engaged in collecting rates. He was authorised to visit the country land courts to receive rates paid into court by Maoris. When the annual audit was made some weeks ago it was discovered that accused had failed to account for £51 Is 3d he had collected at Whakatane, and £4 6s paid to him at Thames with other money. He hud issued receipts on the official forms. Accused, in a statement to the police, said the deficiency in the Thames account was the result of an error. He had no intention of using the money. The £51 he collected at Whakatane had been used to pay a deposit of £30 upon a section, and to settle household expenses. He fully intended to pay back the money and had not used it until he had obtained the promise of a loan of £100 from a friend. Explaining his reason for taking the money, Braithwaite said he was in very poor circumstances, and experienced great difficulty in supporting his wife and child upon the small salary he received. A large part of his earnings had been absorbed in paying the rent, and ho was at last compelled to seek cheaper lodgings. A second child was born, and this added to his expenses. Braithwaite further said that both he and his family had suffered acutely from poverty, and on frequent occasions they had not sufficient food. Thinking that his difficulties would bo alleviated if he established his own home, he decided to purchase a section, and completed arrangements for a loan of £100. _ As this money was not immediately available, lie resolved to utilise the money he had collected to pay the deposit on the land and meet other expenses. Senior-Detective Ward said that accused had recently received , the promised loan, and had made restitution. It was quite probable thSt Braithwaite had no intention of keeping the money. Accused was committed to tho Supreme Court for sentence, bail being allowed in one surety of £50.