STOLEN FROM SCHNEIDEMAN'S

NZ Truth, Issue 850, 4 March 1922, Page 6

STOLEN FROM SCHNEIDEMAN'S

A Youag Girl's Crime Falsely Alleges She Was Blackmailed By Constable. A smartly dressed, pleasant faced girl of 17 years, Annie McWalker,'' occupied the dock at Auckland on Monday before Magistrate ) Poynton, charged that between December 16 last and January 17 she stole var-ious sums of money totalling £328 Is 6d from her employers, Messrs Schneideman Bros., tailors. She was also charged with forging three orders upon Messrs. Macky, Logan, Caldwell, Ltd:, for goods valued at £46 5s lid. Mr. Singer appeared for the accused. Chief Detective Mcllveney said that when the girl had been found out she had told a Mr. Brough at her home that most of the stolen money she had given to a constable whom she said had threatened to tell certain things to her mother. Such a serious allegation demanded the most complete investigation, and Senior Detective Cummings and Ward had been told- off to make the fullest inquiries. They did so and the result showed there was not a tittle of evidence to support- her allegation. The evidence of numerous witnesses went to show that McWalker was employed by Messrs. Schneideman as cashier. On January 26, John McFarlane Elliffe, an accountant, went through the firm's 'books and found that -certain items m the cash book had been altered, and m the book' kept by the girl the cash received 'daily by the salesmen had been entered incorrectly. On going to question the girl, Elliffe found that she had gone, but later she w£s found upstairs IN A FAINTING CONDITION an-d she then said two business men would help her to pay the money back. The amount not accounted fpr .between December 16 last and January 17 was £326 Is 6d>. To Royce E. Inman, manager of the tailoring department. McWalker said she had bought a watch for- £7, a fur £40, Christmas presents about £30, theatres had cost £6„ clothing £45 to £50, and she had given to her mother £20, and to a constable £150, while about £20 went on sundries. Detective Sergeant Ward gave evidence as to interviews with the girl and making tlhe (fullest .inquiries, which showed there was no truth m her allegation that she had given money to a constable. The accused pleaded! guilty to all charges, and was sent along to the Supreme Court for sentence. ' "i