RENT MONEYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22627, 15 January 1937, Page 14

RENT MONEYS

£125 THEFT ALLEGED TAKAPUNA MAN CHARGED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Moneys totalling £l2o from nearly 1(1 tenants around the Takapuna distrift wore allegedly involved in two charges of foiling to aeeount for amounts received while engaged as a salesman and rent eolleetor, which were denied in the Police Court yesterday by Alexander Grunt McAlpine. carrier, aged 34 (Mr. Noble), when he appeared before Mr. C. \\. Orr Walker. S.M.

The churges were that accused fraudulently omitted to account for or pay to Alexander Herbert Wilkie, a Takapuna land agent, on dates between December 7, 1935, and October 10, 1936, sums of 17 and others totalling £IIH, thereby committing theft. Kvidenco was given by six tenants, whose rent payments were concerned, and by Mona, Kllen Tre/.ise, clerk in the employ of Mr. Wilkin, of Takapuna, who had been very ill for some time. Her duties, she said, included accounting for moneys coming into the office. Accused had been engaged on a commission basis as a land salesman and rent collector, and he wits required to puy the rent moneys to her. He did not do this regularly. Letter to Tenant An examination of the rent books, in comparison with the entries in .the cash book and ledger, showed that about .'57 tenants had paid accused money totalling £llß 10s that was never paid into the - office. Lp to November. 1936, he was paid £230 in commission, and the books showed he had £3O still owing to him. Accused was a friend of Mr. Wilkie, who provided him with a car and running expenses for his work. Witness denied writing the followin;.; letter to a .Belmont tenant on July 21, 1936, saying it was written in accused's handwriting:—"i am writing this to apologise for the mistakes J. have made with your account. 1 really do not know how, but I simply get you confused with another tenant. It does sound foolish 1 know. Jf you like 1 will call and see you personally and make a personal apology, as I know Mr. McAlpine has done so for me in the past, i shall probably get the sack this time. I remain, most sincerely apologetic, Mona Tresize." It was pointed out that the signature was spelled wrongly, and witness said accused had not been instructed to write the letter on her behalf. To Mr. Noble, witness said that when accused approached Mr. Wilkie he said he was a man of independent means, and everybody in Takapuna thought he was. Accused's Explanation

Detective R. J. Hamilton said he interviewed accused on December 22 when a complaint was laid, and he frankly admitted converting rent moneys to his own use. He made a statement, saying: "1 became short of money and began using some of the rent money to pay personal debts. 1 urn a married man with four children, and the moneys that T have misappropriated have been spent in maintaining my family. "I intended to repay the moneys to Mr. Wilkie from commissions to be received," accused continued. "From time to time notices were sent to tenants from whom T received rent, advising them that their rent was in arrears. Some notices were posted, others being given to me for delivery, but I never delivered one. When tenants who received notices by post referred them to me, 1 told them that they had been sent in error." Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was fixed at £IOO. with a surety of the same amount, and accused was ordered to report weekly to the police.