EMBEZZLEMENT AND FORGERY. Wellington, April 14.

Otago Witness, Issue 2251, 22 April 1897, Page 10

EMBEZZLEMENT AND FORGERY. Wellington, April 14.

William Gillespie, a well-known postal official, for some time at Master ton, has been arrested on a charge of forging a request for tfce payment of £100 to the Post Office Savings Bank. Other charges are pending. The arrest caused much astonishment-, us Gillespie bore a high character, and on removing from Masterton to Palmeraton North was pre- , senled by the residents with a parse of ! sovereigns. j At the Magistrate's Courfc to-day, William Gilkspie, clerk in Postal department at Pulmerslon North, formerly of MastertoD, waa charged that on June 20 1 896, at Maalerton, he forged n, icquest for £100 on the Post Office SaviDgs Bank, ou June 25 he forged a receipt for £100, on Derembe." 3 he forgi;d a request for £15, and on December 12 forged a receipt for £15. Frank Price, labourer, deposed that in February he got a new book for his account in the Savings Bank, accused statiDg that the former book was lost or burned. There was a large difference respecting the amount which should be to his credit in his new book. Witness called the attention of the department to the discrepancy, and a fresh book was supplied. He never drew the £15 or £100 debited to him, nor were they drawn with bis authority. He never saw accused since he got the new book. Witness and accused were friendly from boyhood, and when the formr r had business to transact he always went to Gilleepie. He had lent accused money, but never gave him a blank order to draw money. The signature to the request was like that of witnef-s, but he had bo recollection of signing it. Witness had signed a similar document when he agreed to loan him £50 Witness m to sign the document, and accused fill in the amount;. It was three yearg since witness lent accused money, and it had not been repaid. It was not till he got a copy of the old bank book that he knew the. money was withdrawn. When Gil!espi« wbs transferred to Palmersfcon he told witnets there was £242 to the latter's credit in the bank. The credit was then £124, but £118 bad been paid since. Willinm Morris, senior clerk accountant's office of the General Post Office, deposed that on complaint from Price ho went to Palmerston and saw Gillespie, accusing him of forging Price's name. Accused practically admitted the offence, and asked whafc he should do. Witness urged that he should make a "clean breast " of it. Accused wrote a letter to the department, stating that the temptation in view of his being pushed by creditors was overwhelming, but he intended to repay it. A large amoutit had been repaid, aud he intended to repay £80, the balance. Accused reserved his defence, and was committed for trial, bail bring allowed himself in £100, and two sureties for £50.

Mr H. S. Fish, M.H.R , caught a cold while in Wellington, and in his pregent condition this is causing his friends some anxiety.

Advice to Mothhrr ! — Are you broken in your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cuttiDg teeth ? Go at once to a chemiet and get a bottle of Mrs Win&low's Soothing Syrup. It will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harmless, and pleasant to the taste ; it produces natural quiet sleep by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes as bright as a button." It soothes the child, it softens the gums, allays all pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhcca whether arising from teething or other causes. Mrs Winslow s soothing Syrup is sold by medicine dealers every where at la ljd per bottle.— rAovi.l