FRAUD CHARGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26915, 29 October 1948, Page 3

FRAUD CHARGES

PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS FURTHER EVIDENCE HEARD P.A. AUCKLAND, Oct. 27. Further evidence for the Crown was heard to-day in the case in which three men are charged with having defrauded the Public Works Department of over £IOOO. The trial is being conducted by Mr Justice Fair, and Mr J. Cleal represents the Crown. The accused are George. Malcolm Smith, a clerk, aged 35 (Mr M. Robinson); Mate Delich, a contractor, aged 58 (Mr Dickson); and James Fullerton Brown, an insurance agent, aged 43 (Mr Henry). Against Smith alone, or in association with one of the others, there are 23 charges of theft and 23 of forging time sheets or daily wage sheets. Against Smith and Brown there are three charges of theft and against Smith and Delich nine charges of theft and nine of forgery. In cross-examination, the chief inspector of the Public Works Department, Wellington, Ormond Cloustou Dunnet, said that in no case investigated by him had payment been made by the department on Smith’s signature alone. In no case had there been any disguise of Smith’s handwriting. The signature of the engineer or certifying officer appeared on everv wage sheet produced in the case. In the filling in of the time books there were many cases of casual labour for-broken periods. Witness knew nothing of a practice by which authority for work done on one job was transferred to another. Other witnesses, employees of the department, gave evidence mainly on the lines of that given in the lower court. Further evidence for the prosecution will be heard to-morrow.