A PALTRY PROSECUTION.

NZ Truth, Issue 65, 15 September 1906, Page 4

A PALTRY PROSECUTION.

. The .City Corporation figured as prosecutor m a charge of theft, at the Magistrate's .« Court on Friday week morning and cut a disreputable figure m as far as the management of the tramways was concerned/ The defendant was George Henry ' Brown, an ex-tram ! conductor, who, charged with the theft of 10s on August 27 last, had been arrested at Auckland and brought down m custody to Wellington to answer the charge, it appears ■-■ that when > a conductor is envployed he is given iOs which he Has to utilise for purposes of change.. When the conductor leayef that employment it is his' ; duty to" hand over that sum. ThisMtrwas alleged Brown had failed to dq.. It wasi shown by the evidence of the tramway accountant that little, if any, check was kept on the conductors' change cash and . instances were tife where that change had been handed m. with the day's takings. ' , Brown's" own story was that some time back he had handed m his 10s change with. his takings, arid though he had made representations to have it returned he had never received it again, and he had used his own moneys Magistrate Riddell said the system of check placed on the cash was not thorough and as there was a doubt the accused must get the benefit of it, and he was accordingly discharged. The whole affair reflected anything but credit on the Corporation.