ARREST OF AN INSURANCE AGENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11956, 1 February 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

ARREST OF AN INSURANCE AGENT.

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF THEFT. AN ALLEGED FIRE IN CHRISTCHURCH. (Fnosr Oun Own ConnEsros'DEOT.) WELLINGTON, January 27. Sergeant Cruickshank, who some years ago was a smart young constable in Dunedin, has for the past few days been on the track of Mr Walter Mills Phillips, the general manager in New Zealand of the Imperial Insurance Company, and this morning he arrested him on a somewhat unusual and extraordinary charge of theft. It" is alleged that in March, 1899, he represented to his company that a fire had occurred in Armagh street-, Christchurch, by which a house over which the company had a £400 risk was destroyed; that, ignoring the Christchurch agent of the company, he presented papers either to the local directors or to the higher hoard of directors in Melbourne showing all the usual evidence, proof of loss, etc., and on the understanding that he in his capacity as general manager for the colony had paid over the money to the imaginary policyholder he was reimbursed the £400 in the usual way. It is alleged that accused drew his expenses for going to Christchurch to inspect and report on the supposed fire, and that be represented to his superior officers that the police and the fire brigade were late in arriving at the fire. In consequence of information reoeived, Sergeant Cruickshank followed Phillips on a trip to Christchurch a few days ago. Accused returned from Christchurch by the Rotomahana, arriving, yesterday morning. The scrcrcaiiit followed him in the Monowai, arriving this morning. Mr Locke, general manager of the Imperial Insurance Company, had arrived in Wellington from Melbourne yesterday afternoon, and this (Saturday) morning at 8 o'clock Phillips was arrested by two detectives, and charged at the Magistrate's Court with the theft of £406 Is, belonging to the Imperial Insurance Company. A remand was granted and bail of £100 and two sureties of £50 each allowed. Later in the day, however, the police, in conscquence of something that had come to their knowledge, obtained an increase of bail.