ALLEGED THEFTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20089, 4 May 1927, Page 4

ALLEGED THEFTS.

CHARGE AGAINST ACCOUNTANT. A LARGE SUM INVOLVED. (Special to Daili Timm.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 3. Charged with stealing, between October 10, 1925, and April 12, 1927, -various turns of money amounting in all to £1036 9s 3d from the Todd Motor Company (Ltd.), Christchurch, Walter John Clark Aitchison. an accountant, 30 years of age, appeared before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court this morning. Bryan James Todd said that the accused had been employed by the Toed Motor Company (Ltd.), for the past six years—for the first three in the Dunedin office, and for the past three in the Christchurch office—as an accountant. His duty was to receive the money paid into the firm by way of instalments on motor cars. The accused disappeared on April 12 last. Witness next saw him on April 21 at the firm’4 office. The firm’s accountant from Wellington told the accused .then that the amount of the defalcations was about £IOOO The accused replied that he was surprised that the amount should be so large, but that he was quite prepared to accept the figures. Geoffrey James Hollis, of _ Wellington, stated that, as the result of his investigation, he discovered irregularities amounting to £1036 9s 3d, the first of which occurred about October 10, 1925. The records showed that no entry whatever had been made in the books with regard to numerous promts sory notes which represented security for instalments on ears purchased on the hirepurchase system. According to the books these notes had not been met, although long past the due date. When interviewed the accused told witness that he thought the total amount involved would bo between £4OO and £SOO. Detective E. W. Thomas said that on April 21 last the accused called at the detective office. Witness showed him a statement made by him (the accused), to the Dunedin police. In the course of this statement the accused said that during the past 12 months he had been taking the firm’s money. He could not slate the exact amount: but he thought it was about £4OO. When people had come in to pay instalments on cars he had handed them their promissory notes as receipts, and converted the money to his_ own use. The amounts he had taken varied from £5 to £SO. He had used the money for bfsttmg purposes, and had first taken money because he had got into difficulties in this respect. The accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supremo Court for trial. Bail was allowed in the sum of £2OO, and two sureties of £IOO each. A condition was made that the accused should report to the police daily.