THEFTS BY CLERK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21401, 27 January 1933, Page 12

THEFTS BY CLERK

TOTAL OF NEARLY .£IOOO

DUPLICATION OF CHEQUES

FRANK ADMISSION MADE

Ten charges of theft, involving £971 7s. from the Auckland Transport Hoard, were admitted by a clerk, William George Norman Hutchison, aged 28. in the Police Court yesterday. The misappropriations extended from May to December, 1932 Accused was represented by Mr. Matthews and Detective-Sergeant M. O'Sullivan pro scented. Joshua Fielden Holliiirake, accountant to the board, said accused had been in the employ of the board for about 10 years. Ou January 12 ho had come to witness' office in the evening and had adni.tted stealing about £7OO from the board. He said he, had duplicated three cheques, each amounting to £152 7s 6d, and had converted the money to his own use. Each of tho duplicated cheques had been signed by two members of the board and the treasurer. The cheques were drawn as payment for relief wages. Witness said that accused also admitted having on October 11 made out and cashed a fourth cheque for £152 7s 6d, which had been drawn in anticipation of the payment of relief wages for the month. As the Labour Department notified the board. howeveV, that it was paying the relief wages, the cheque should have been destroyed. Accused also converted money amounting to £6l 14s which should have been paid as wages stamps on vouchers On January 12 witness discovered that the whole of the money in the imprest account was missing. Vouchers to a total of £9 15s were accounted for by accused, leaving £l9O 5s missing. Accused bad also overdrawn wages on the No. 5 relief scheme to a total of £43 9s and had also paid out bogus accident and compensation payments in tho imprest account amounting to £4l 19s. On December 17 he was given a number of tram concession tickets to sell to relief workers. The sunt of £4 16s obtained in this way was not accounted for.

In reply to Mr. Matthews, witness said accused's conduct had hitherto been very satisfactory and very large sums of money had passed through his hands. Accused had written to witness making the appointment to meet him at 5 p.m. on January 12, when the defalcations were frankly admitted. Accused's net wages, after paying superannuation and wages tax, were about £3 10s a week. In entering a plea of guilty, Mr. Matthews mentioned that accused was the sole support of his parents, who were in ill-health.

Accused was committed by Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail in one surety of £250 was allowed.