ALLEGATION OF THEFTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21359, 7 December 1932, Page 14

ALLEGATION OF THEFTS

EX-SOLICITOR CHARGED COMMITTAL FOR TRIAL ' Two charges of theft were preferred against a former solicitor, Charles Stewart Leahy, aged 44, before Messrs. L. S. Rickerhy and T. E. Whitton, J.P.'s, in the Police Court yesterday. DetectiveSergeant P. J. Doyle prosecuted, accused conducting his own cross-examination of witnesses. The offences alleged were, on July 8, 1931, having received £225, with a direction that the money should be paid to the Commercial Bank of Australia in settlement of an overdraft due by J. Lipanovicli, and to the Auckland City Council for rates due by Lipanovich on a Somerset Place property, he fraudulently applied the money to another purpose, committing theft; on March 2, 1928, stealing £l6, and, up to May 18, 1931. further sums amounting to £502, the property of Thomas James O'Hagan. In respect of the first charge, J. Lipanovich, restaurant keeper, of Victoria Street West, stated that Leahy had acted as his solicitor. " A law clerk, Reginald Marider, formerly employed by accused, said that, about July 5, 1931, bo was instructed to see a moneylender to obtain an advance of £225 to Lipanovich, the security being over the Somerset Place property. Evidence was called to show that Lipanovich's overdraft at the bank had not been paid off, the bank still holding security over the Somerset Place property, and that payment of rates had not boon effected.

Detective-Sergeant Doyle gave evidence on the second charge. Accused pleaded not guilty to both 'charges and reserved his defence. He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.