CLERK’S DEFALCATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11159, 15 March 1922, Page 6

CLERK’S DEFALCATION

TWELVE MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT. - “GRAVE BREACH OF TRUST.’* George Fuller-Quinn stood before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., yesterday charged with embezzlement. Three chargee were'preferred against him—of stealing sl7 12s between August l6t and 31st last; of £lB 9s between September Ist and 30th; and of £ls 19s 4d between December Ist and 31st. This money was taken from the Phoenix Assurance Company, and the charges were admitted by the accused man. Chief-Detective Kemp, who prosecuted, gave the facts to the court. For the past twelve months he had been employed l by the company, at a wage of £4*loß weekly. His duties had been to collect money and policies at tho counter; and, instead of accounting for the money, he appropriated portion of it to his own use. He had a wife and one .child, and recently his wife had been compelled to apply for a separation order against him. He was voddicted to drink, and, generally, had behaved very badly. In consequence of his habit of visiting varied* hotels in working hours, ho had been discharged. Mr J. O’Donoran stated that tho man had been employed early in tho war on the auxiliary fleet. He had been invalided to New Zealand and placed upon the staff at Trcnth&m military camp. In 1920, in consequence of the reduction in the staff, be had been discharged, and was out of employment for over a year. He broke his leg, and incurred varioha heavy expenses. Immediately ho obtained work all his creditors commenced to proa? hin» for payment, and hf foolishly took this means of squaring his accounts. Counsel asked for probation. * • This the chief probation officer (Mr T. P' Mills) refused to endorse. He would never recommend embezzlement cases where a man hail been in a position of trust, Tlie magistrate declined to grant probation, and sentenced the man to six months’ imprisonment on each of the first two charges, the terms to be cumulative.