A YOUNG MAN'S LAPSE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13717, 22 June 1915, Page 6

A YOUNG MAN'S LAPSE.

At the Magistrate's Court this afternoon, before Mr W. A. Barton, .b.M., 'Richard Walter Simeon, remanded from yesterday, was charged with having, on May 31 last, stolen from his employer, William Stark Lawrie, fennis' totalling , £30 2s 6d. Mr K. H. Mann appeared on behalf of accused, and Detective McLeod conducted the prosecution. William Stark Lawrio, chemist, deposed that accused had been, m, his employ for two months as an apprentice. ■On* I'May,1 'May, 25. fye gave accused £14 to lodge, at the liavik of * New Zealand. Accused returned m about half an, hour and said : "This is the receipt," placing a* document on. the file^ As dFar «<is witness could see it was^ : .a ;'receipt.> Witness did not particularly* ie>cginii.ne ■it. On May dl he gavoaccwSed ±116 2s £d to bank hikd on his returns the. procedure was practically the same as m the first instance. On the 19th the Bank rang him up tq say he had a deficit of £30 2s 6d. Accused had no authority to keep the money for his own purposes. •-■ ■. •* To Mr Mann:. .He considered the action was due to accused, losing' liis head a little. Previous to this witness had always found accused very honest, straight-forward and satisfactory as his assistant. ' * Henry Charles Morgan, toller, Bank of New Zealand, tteposed (that accused had not paid iiv anything to the credit' of the last witness on May 25 or 31. Detective McLeod stated .that about 3.30 p.m. yesterday he interviewed- accused, who" at first maintained he had paid the money to the credit of his" employer, that lie had received receipts from the bank, and had placed the receipts on the file m Mr Lawrie's Office, auch through «omc 'manner -they-' )i&d b'ecobe burnt. Witness. \ohi accuse dit was useless to expect him to believe that story, and accused then made a, statement, admiting hating kept the money. He said he had not speOt the money, but 'it was m his box at 'home. /Ho did not know why he had 1 stolen themoney^ as he was not m need of it. Witness took accused to his home, on arrival there accused said he had. spent some of the money. Proceeding to the stables they recovered £14 m £T notes and 2s 6d" postal note. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. ; Mr Mann applied for bail, which was granted m one sum .of £50 and one surety of a like amount, to appear at the Supreme' Court at 10 a.m. to morrow. • • ■ .