FORGERY AND THEFT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18876, 31 May 1923, Page 2

FORGERY AND THEFT.

AN ACCOUNTANT'S LAPSE. MONEY USED FOR HORSE-RACING. REPATRIATION DEPARTMENT CASE. (Pkb Ukited Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, May 30. During the bearing of the case against Ernest William M'Cardell, who appeared before the Magistrate's Court this morning on a charge 01 theft as a Government servant of two sums of money aggregating £1153 12s 6cl, and on 19 charges of forgery in connection with Government vouchers, counsel for thp accused intimated that ho intended putting M'Cardell in the witness box because the Supreme Court, or at least one judge, desired that what prisoner said ■in the Upper Court should be on the Lower Court depositions. , Accused said that he was 34 years of age, and had been married just prior to leaving lor France, after his return from SamoaHe returned to Now Zealand in January, 1919. During his service he had held a position in London as pay clerk and a position as paymaster in camp. Considerable amounts ot money, approximately about £ICO,GOO per mouth, passed through his hands while he held this office, and, no complaints had ever been made against liim. Between January and April, 19ly, following his return lie was unemployed. While he Was away his father and his-, mother died. Upon arriving back in New Zealand he paid £2OO or £3CO towards the expense of their burial, eto. The Magistrate: "£3OO for burial expenses?" The Accused: "There were other expenses besides." • "There were other debts?"—"Yes." The Bench: "VVeli, you weren't responsible for them." Detective Nuttall: "In regard' to the files in connection with these applications, where are they ?" ' The Accused: "I destroyed them." . "Is it necessary, to draw up a bill of sale for each?"—"No." ' ;i»"Where are-the bills of- sale?'%—"There 'tvere "none' drawn urs." "If there were no bills of sale drawn up, how then did you register those documents in the Supreme Court? Can you account for that?"—"No, I can't." "How did you manage to file copies in the Supreme Court if you did not have the originals?"—"The applications are' always filed in the Supreme Court." "You know that there are documents in the Supreme Court which the Government hold as security, and they are in reality not worth 3d?"—"lf there are copies in uie Supreme Court I can't account for them." "Who drew up the applications for these loans?" —"I drew them up myself." "Are you positive that you did not receive the assistance of anyone else in your office to draw up these applications?"— "Yes, I am certain." "Then who satisfied the Repatriation Bo3rd that they were genuine applications?"—"l did." "Was it your duty to be present at a meeting of the board when these things were considered?"—"No." "Then how did you put the applications through?"—"l handed them over to someone else, and told him I had seen the applicant, and that he was all right." _ "I am going to ask you again, Mr M'Cardell, did you ever have the assistance of anyone in your office in drawing up these applications?"—"No; no one." "Would it be possible to have a cheque drawn and cashed before a loan was granted or even considered by the board?"—"ies." "This is a lovely office," interjecteu the Bench. Detective' Nuttall: "Are you aware some of these cheques were drawn and cashed almost a week before the applications were granted by the board?"—"Yes, I am." "How many days after an application is made does the board consider it?"—"No particular number of days." "Do you know that in some cases a cheque was drawn and cashed two days after the application was made, and a week before it was. considered by the Repatriation Board?"— "Yes; I know." "In cases where that happened who satisfied the board that the application was genuine?"—"l was not really concerned with bringing it before the board." "You said that you had charge of this?" —"No; I said that I handed it on to someone else." "Was i; your duty to satisfy the board that these applications were genuine?"— "No; it was the duty of the board itself." "Who was.the interviewing officer when these fictitious vouchers were put before the board?"—"l am,not certain." "When you obtained Mr Batten's signature what explanation did you give him''' —"No explanation. I just asked him to sign it, I did not tell him that a loan had not been granted by the board." "Where is the £IOOO that you had last year?' inquired the magistrate. The Accused: "Racehorses!" The Magistrate: "You didn't go to races every day, and besides you had your salary. Now, how often did you go to the races?" —"I used to get leave to go. I went to Otaki and Masterton." "Is your house your own?"—"No; it was bought under the discharged soldiers' scheme, and most of the money is still owing." "You have absolute! v nothing "No." "Are there any other defalcations?"— "No; tin's is the lot." The accused, who pleaded guilty, wan accordingly committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was refused.