DISHONEST BANK CLERKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21245, 27 July 1932, Page 14

DISHONEST BANK CLERKS

SUM OF £5099 STOLEN TERMS OF PENAL SERVITUDE Three bank clerks, Stuart Cbarles McLean, aged 41, Iloraco John Finn, aged 49, and Frank Pbibbs, aged 42, were convicted in Sydney Inst week of stoaling £5099 while employed as clerks to tlio Commercial Banking Company of SydneyMcLean and Finn were each sentenced to four years' penal servitude and Phibbs to two years' penal servitude. Tho jury made ft recommendation for mercy in the case of .Phibbs, and asked that in each caso tho previous good character of tho accused should bo taken into consideration. Tho jury added tho following rider:—"Wo regret that the bank system afforded an opportunity lor defalcations to bo carried out for such a long period." Answering His Honor, Mr. Broad, an inspector of tho bank, said that tho tollers' books wero balanced each day. No check that he could imagine would find anything that had not been entered. His Honor: Would not there bo a check between the head office and the branches? Mr. Broad: Yes, once a week. His Honor: It does seem a pity that it went on for a poriod of 15 months. , llis Honor asked Mr. Broad whether, if a depositor paid in a £lO note, and tho teller chose to tear up tho deposit slip, tho matter could be checked? Mr. Broad: Not in the caso of a £lO note, but a cheque could bo traced. Tlis Honor: I think it comes" to this — that no human being has yet been able to devise a scheme which some fraudulent person cannot beat. After all, tho solution seems to bo to get honest men on the job. . . . It'-does seem to the credit of the men that they 'owned up. The Judge said that, in sentencing the prisoners, he had the public to consider.