CHARGES DENIED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23042, 20 May 1938, Page 16

CHARGES DENIED

CITY FIRM EMPLOYEE ALLEGED THEFT AND FRAUD CASE FOR THE- DEFENCE ACCUSED IN WITNESS BOX For the fourth day the hearing of the case against Trevor George Bain, warehouseman, aged 31, involving 32 charges of fraud and theft from Briscoe and Company, Limited, was continued yesterday before Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court. Included in the indictments are 13 counts on which accused is charged with having received sums totalling £75 10s Bd, and having failed to account for them to the company. There are further charges of altering stock sheets with intent to defraud.

Mr. V. R. Meredith represented the Crown, and Mr. Sullivan, and Mr. Aekins appeared for the defence.

Detective Slater gave evidence upon various conversations ho had with accused, and related at length the stops taken to check the various stock sheets and accounts produced for inspection when the initial inquiries were made.

The Defence Opens In opening the case for tho defence, Mr. Aekins said it was evident from what the Crown witnesses had stated in their evidence that the affairs of the company, so far as tho tyro department was concerned, had been in a muddle, and that tho system was lax. Accused would go into the witness box, and it was the belief of the defence that when the jury had heard his story, a quito different complexion would bo given to the case. In evidence accused said that on an average between 10,000 and 20,000 tyres passed through the department every year. Quite frequently there would be two shipments, comprising from 500 to 1000 each, every month. He described tho system of handling the tyres. To givo dealers an incentive to concentrate upon certain lines, it was ai'ranged to put certain deals through threo commercial firms, to whom reasonable profits were allowed-

Money Placed in a Tin

Bain said ho would give receipts and place tho money in a tin kept in a long desk. Tho tin might not bo cleared for two or three days. Certain people would collect tho money, but ho was not given a receipt for it, and up to the time he left no transaction was investigated. None of tho money received for cash sales found its way into his pocket.

Accused said he knew their were shortages, and wan concerned that if the knowledge came before the notice of his superiors, he would be dismissed. He never took any tyres. It would have taken some time to adjust the shortages, but it could have been done. "Had Never Stolen Money"

He had never stolen any money from his employers, nor sold tyres and taken the money for himself, accused said. He admitted responsibility for £2OO in shortages, as he felt that was all he could do. It was suggested by one of the executive that he should find £SOO to square the deficiency. He tried to raise some money, but tfas'hnsuccessful;

Bain admitted that while ho was at Briscoe's ho would absent himself for short periods to attend what he had called "Tho Human Touch Institute," which conducted the Health and Sunshine magazine, and distributed certain oversea magazines. In response to further questions from Mr. Meredith, Bain, denied having stolen money from Briscoe's, or that any of Briscoe's money nvent into the Human Touch Institute or the Health and Sunshine magazine. He further denied the appropriation of any moneys belonging to Michclins. The hearing will be continued this morning.