LARGE THEFTS ALLEGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19627, 4 May 1927, Page 13

LARGE THEFTS ALLEGED

CASE AGAINST ACCOUNTANT. STATEMENT TO THE POLICE. " MONEY USED FOR BETTING." [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. 1 CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday. Charged with stealing, between October 10, 1925, and April 12, 1927, various sums of money, amounting i n a ll to £1036 9s 3d, from the Todd Motor Co., Ltd., Christchurch, Walter John Clark Aitchison, an accountant, aged 30, appeared before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court this morning. Bryan James Todd said accused had been employed by the Todd Motor Company, Ltd., for tho past six years, for the' first three in the Dunedin office and for the past three in the Christchurch office, as accountant. His duty was to receive tha money paid in to the firm by way of instalments on motor-cars. Accused disappeared on April 12 last, and witness next saw him on April 21 at the firm's office. The firm's accountant from Wellington told accused then that the amount of the defalcations was about £IOOO. Accused replied that he was taken aback that the amount should be so large, but that he was quite prepared to accept the figures.. Geoffrey James Hollis, of Wellington, stated that as the result of his investigation he discovered irregularities amounting tQ £1036 9s 3d. The first occurred about October 10, 1925. The records showed that no entry whatever had been made in the books with tegard to numerous promissory notes, which represented security for instalments on cars purchased on the hire-purchase system. According to the books these notes had not been met, although long past due date. When interviewed accused told witness that he thought the total amount involved would be between £4OO and £SOO. Detective Thomas said that on April 21 last accused called at the detective office. Witness showed him a statement made by accused to the Dunedin police. In the course of this statement accused said that during the past 12 months he had been taking the firm's money. He could not state the exact amount, but he thought it was about £4OO. When people had come in to pay instalments on cars he had handed them their promissory notes as receipts, and converted the money to his own use. The amounts he had taken varied - from £5 to £SO. Ho had used the money for betting purposes, and had first taken money because he had got into difficulties in this respect. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in £2OO, and two sureties of £IOO each. A condition was made that ac.cused should report to the police daily.