COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9043, 14 May 1915, Page 7

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE

BARCLAY HECTOR PLEADS GUILTY. When the case of Barclay; Hector, Registrar of the University ofc New Zealand, charged with /embezzlement of £1027 18s 10d,. belonging to tho Senate, came on for hearing in ' the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Mr PS.< &. Macassey, for the prosecution, asked that this charge be' withdrawn and three other charges substituted. This request was acceded to by thd magistrate : (Air D. G. 'A. Cooper). Air T. AI. Wilford appeared for the accused.

The three charges substituted were: (1) Fraudulently converting the sum of ,£37 12s 2d on April 13th, 191$; :<to his own us©; (2) having received from the Senate of the University of New Zealand the sum of £650 on terms requiring him to account for the same to J. W. Joynl, did fraudulently omit to pay tbe same, thereby committing theft; (3) on Alarch 13th, 191*4, having , received the sum of £l6O 6s 6d . on terms ■ requiring him to pay tho same to J. W. Joynt in London, did fraudulently omit to do so. Henry’ Alexander Lamb, audit inspector, said it was a part of his duties to audit the accounts at tho New Zealand University. With reference to the cheque drawn for £l5O, it was drawn for the purpose of remittance to London.. The cheque was not sent .to London, but paid into the scholarship account of the (- university, together with other moneys. With, reference to a cheque drawn by Hector for £650 for remittance to London, that cheque was also paid into the scholarship account to cover various collections of previous defalcations. AVilliam Albert Evans, treasurer' of the New Zealand University, Senate, said that all the cheques on behalf of the Senate wore signed by himself as treasurer and Barclay Hector as registrar. Witness gave as to the drawing of certain cheques signed by himself and, the accused, for remittance to London. Hector had no authority to apply money to any other purpose than for which it was drawn. : To. Air Wilford: Witness never followed any of the. cheques ho signed to see where they went to. Ho only signed the cheques, which wag but following the usual procedure, and did nothing more. / ■ Allies Clement Waller Alason, manager of the Wellington Investment Trustee and Agency Company, said his company had received two sums of £6OO on deposit on September loth, 1913. These two sums were uplifted on July 21st, 1914. by Hector, and witness produced the receipt of their upliftment. Robert George Scott, clerk in the Bank of Now Zealand, testified to the Senate of the -university’/keeping an account at the hank. Witness produced several cheques signed by Hector and debited to the account of the Senate of the university,, and also several cheques paid into the university’s account. James, H, Low and Francis Raymond. Picot also gave evidence. ; After the evidence for the prosecution, which was of an exceedingly complicated, character, bad been taken, accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to tho Supremo Court for sentence. '

Mr AVllfofd asked that accused bo remanded Tor sentence till Saturday.

His Worship said that he could not do that. •It was not within the court’s power. Mr AVJUord thought that a further remand would bo asked for on Saturday, as for obvious reasons the Gliie.7 Justice would not sentence the accused. Air Justice Hosking would be the next Justice in town, and he ;would not arrive until Saturday evening. : Accused was committed for. sentence sine die, bail being allowed in the sum of £250. , ..