ALLEGATION OF THEFT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20821, 13 March 1931, Page 13

ALLEGATION OF THEFT.

PAYMENT FOR EARTH.

FORMER COUNCIL EMPLOYEE. COMMITTAL FOR TRIAL. A charge of fraudulently omitting to account to the Mount Albert Borough Council for a cheque of £4, on November 8, 1928, thereby committing theft, was preferred against Forbes Eadie, a former employee of the council, in the Police Court yesterday, before Messrs. A. J. Stratford and S. J. Marks, J.P.'s. Mr. Haigh appeared for accused. Walter Weaver, building inspector to the Mount Albert Borough Council, said ho was in business as a builder and contractor in 1928, and required some spoil. He asked accused, who was clerk of works in Richardson Road, the price of spoil, and he eventually received about 45 yards. Ho paid accused £4, making out the cheque to F. Eadie, at tho request of accused.

Wilfred Ernest Bcgbie, engineer to the council, said accused was employed as clerk of works in 1928. Ho had no authority to dispose of the spoil on his own account. Witness first learned of the matter of the £4 either late in 1929 or early in 1930, when he discussed it with Mr. Weaver. He could not find any trace of the money having been paid in and he made a report to the Mayor, the deputy-mayor and tho chairman of the Works Committee.. He did not ask accused for any explanation. He thought that evidence was fairly strong against him and that ho was not a man to be trusted. Accused was dismissed from the service of the council for being abusive to witness.

Ronald David Badlev, a book-keeper employed by the borough council, said ho could find no records that the money had been paid in. Arthur George Holdsworth, a director of the firm of H. Bray and Company, contractors for the Richardson Road work, said accused called to seo him about March 2 and said he had received the £4 from Weaver as a gratuity. He did not say he had given the money to the drivers who carted the spoil.

Detective Snedden said that when he showed accused the cheque, he did not remember having received it. Mr. Haigh said it was no ordinary case of theft and suggested that the charge should be dismissed. Accused admitted receiving the cheque, but said he paid tho money to the cartels concerned. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in one surety of £SO and self of £SO.