WILLIAMS WENT WRONG.

NZ Truth, Issue 243, 19 February 1910, Page 8

WILLIAMS WENT WRONG.

LABOR SECRETARY IN TROUBLE.

Juggles with the Union's Money.

BENEFITS HIMSELF WITH BENEFIT MONEY.

Careless Trustees.

SIGN BLANK WITHDRAWAL FORMS— "WE TRUSTED THE MAN!"

At the Wellington S.M.s Court on Saturday morning last before Mr W. Cx. Riddell, S.M., William Williams, a young 1 man, an iron and brass moulder and secretary of the Wellington Iron and Brass Founders' Union, appeared on remand, charged with, between Dec. 1, 1909, and Feb. 1, 1910, stealing £60, the property of the Wellington Iron and Brass Founders' Union. • ( • When the case was called on the Chief Detective announced that he wished to withdraw ithat charge, and that others hid been. suortttTviked. Williams was then enatged with having stolen the sums of £15, £15 10s, £29, £6, and £5 3s 9d, the dates of each, theft being May 20, June 26, July 14, August 30, and December 3, 1909. He was, m addition, charged with having, on Dec. 3, 1909, received £10, on terms requiring him to account for the same to A. H. Phillips, he did fraudulently convert the same to his, own use. Kir Wilford, who appeared for the accused, said that . there had- been some misconception caused through the ( reports In the press. Williams was charged with having stolen double the amount of money that he was ' actually charged with stealing. As new charges had been laid against Williams and the charge of stealing £60 had. been withdrawn, it would be seen that, the Union, had not been defrauded of double the, amount alleged to have been stolen .'. >' ■■■•■■ The first witness called was Norman Leslie Cook, a clerk at the P.O. Savings Bank, who gave evidence 'of the with-, drawal from • the bank of, the sums set forth. He produced the withdrawal slips which were, signed by Messrs ■ Thompson and Mulcahy. • f ' William Lewis, a moulder, and treasurer of the Union, deposed that the Union was registered. . Acoused . 'Williams was secretary of the Union 'and was appointed to the position m February, 1909. He was- to receive a. salary of about £7- 10s per annum. Accused had to receive all contributions and hand them over to witness who gave him a receipt. For moneys expended by him oh behalf of the Union accused had 'to give Svitness a receipt. Messrs Thompson and Muloahy were trustees of the Union. Witness produced the cash book. ' Witness entered the amounts m this book on the .information supplied by accused. On June 26 there was a £10 withdrawal which was authorised by the Union. ■• The raccused had possession of the bank book. The accused was not authorised to withdraw any of the amounts mentioned m the charge with the exception of £10 which was authorised to be withdrawn on June 20. The total deficiency was £62. 9s sd.

Thomas Joseph 'Mulcahy, a trustee .of the Wellington Iron and Brass Moulders' Union, said that on. different .occasions accused had obtained his -. signature to savings bank,, withdrawal slips. AH withdrawals had 'to. be authorised by the Union. He knew the suras • the accused was charged with stealing. As trustee witness had signed the withdrawal slips. Excepting the withdrawal on Juno 2G-, witness understood the withdrawals were for, small sums. On June 26, he understood the withdrawal was lor . £10 and not for £15 10s. The accused had made two statements which he had signed. .* These statements which , were not read, but were put m as evidence, were typewritten and m accused's hand-writing. They were as follows :— . ", Wellington, • . . Feb. I, 1910. To the Executive Officers, Iron and Brass Moulders' Union. - When I told Mr Con way, last . night, re defalcation m funds, .1 made the statement as mild as possible, for the reason that I wanted hay to give me time until next Wednesday. I am absolutely sure that if I had been given time until then I could have raised the money to square up. He promised then to let the matter rest until .then, but as, you sprung a surprise an me this morning - Istuk to the statement I made last night, instead of telling the truth. ,'...-.'. I had made up my mind to put the whole of my deficit before j'ou. When 1 first, received intimation from home that my father was dead, arid had Jcft me a considerable amount of -money 1 naturally .thought I would .have plenty before long and that. l was quite' * safe, m borrowing some money, out of the funds of tha L'nion. . The matter m regard _ to .my- legacy has been draging on and on owing to me not serving my time m the . German Army .and short of going home myself I have little hope of ever getting anything. But I was not aware of this until to late, relying on my money getting here any day, I kept on drawing out the moneys of the Union, then I be' able to pay bak before anybody would know of it. Now I owe the Union about 60.E and I again implore you, to give me till Wednesday before taclcing steps against me, by giving me time till then you do absolutely no harm to yourself. If 1 cannot meet my liability then you have this statement against myself and can tacke steps against me, but by doing so now rightaway you will prevent me getting any money. , ■Hoping that you will me a chance, I. shall come round at a little before eight. . . Yours faithfully • ■". ."''^.' : \: v ;;, ';' ;:, : -; W. WILLIAMS; * ; ' In regard to the money owing bettalf of Mr P. I think I shall be able to raise the amount on j&e type-writer. If you decide -to take steps against mo kindly let me have until 12 o'clock to morrow morning to fix up matters m regard to the Saddler's case, which I should take before the Court next Tuesday. "The other statement ran :— I hereby acknowledge that I have embezzled the sum or 60£ ot (sixty pounds) thcreabaul I promise to pay tiiev sum over to the Executive Officers by Wednesday, 9th Feb., 1910. In regard to the money owing io Mt Phillips I promise to pay that sum (ten pounds five shelings and 6 pence) ovei to the treasurer by to-morrow night. W. WILLIAMS. Witness : Thos. Mulcahy. Mr Wilford : The confession came first of all from the accused to the President ?— Yes. Had he made it known to the Executive ?— Yes. Did you sign the withdrawal forms m blank ?— Yes, sir. Do you consider that as a trustee you were so authorised ? — Yes. As far as signing Ihcm m blank ?— Yes. We trusted the man. And you were trusted to . sign withwithdrawal slips ?—■ Yes. \ ': The witness said he signed the orders and no amount was written on them. Had he not done so the offences would not have been committed. The accused had mentioned the amounts. The amounts could not have be withdrawn unless witness' sienatuie had been forged. Mr Wilford : Then it comes to this : that believing m Williams you let everything slide ?— Yes. Had you any other duty as trustee except to watch the funds ?— No, sir.

I suppose you see now that without your being so careless the offences could not have been committed ? — We trusted the man, that's the only answer. But I put, it to you this way that if you had properly attended to. your duties the offence would not have been committed? — Yes. The other trustee is m the same position as yourself— you trusted Williams' otherwise it "would not have occurred?— Yes. --■ '... „ .■: ■ : -.I. William Malcolm Thompson, a trustee of the Union, said that as such he signed blank withdrawal slips for accused. lib;, had heard Mulcahy's evidence and it was correct. In December last, a social was got up as a benefit for a man named Phillips. Accused, as secretary, received the proceeds, which amounted to £10 The accused was instructed to forward the proceeds to Phillip, who was m Auckland. Phillips had met with an accident and had lost his leg. « Acting-Detective Hammond, of Wellington, said he arrested accused on warrant on February 2. He was then charged with stealing £60. On searching accused at the station portion of a copy of the confession was found on him. On Feb. 9 witness charged Williams with stealing £10, the property of Phillips. The accused made a statement m which he confessed that he had converted the proceeds of the benefit social to his own use. Phillips was secretary of the Moulders' Federation.

That was the case and Williams was charged and pleaded guilty to each offence. -

He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail, self m £80 and two sureties of .£4O each, was allowed.