The Pacific Slope.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 367, 28 January 1890, Page 2

The Pacific Slope.

A WOODVILLE SENSATION. JAMES HUTCHINS WANTED.

On Friday afternoon (says the Examiner) a warrant was issued for the arrest of James Hutchins on a charge of misappropriating monies belonging to the Foresters' Court. Hutchins was Secretary to the Court for some time and during his secretaryship he arranged for the Trustees of the Court to advauce £SO to a resident of Baker's Town on mortgage. The Trustees drew the money and handed it to Hutchins as secretary to hand to thesolicitor who was preparing the mortgage deeds. No suspicion was aroused till the Trustees made enquiry for the deeds when they found that the money had not been advanced as intended. They then made enquiries which resulted in the information that the deeds had not been prepared, but that instead Hutchins had got a deed of mortgage of some property of his own prepared. The Trustees endeavored to find him in order to obtain an explanation. They ascertained lie had gone to Wellington some days ago and had wired to his family that lie had obtained a situation with the Government Insurance Department at Herbertville and was proceeding there. Then enquiry was made of the Government Insurance Department and they stated this was not the case. The Trustees considered they had therefore no option but to lay an information and issue the warrant for his arrest and this was done on Friday. It is believed Hutchins has gone to the South Island. He was an old resident of Woodville, and had been a prominent officer of the Foresters. He lias been in business as commission agent, and latterly as Government Insurance agent for some years. He has a wife and large family and it is with deep regret that we have to record this irregularity. The police are searching for him but have not yet obtained information of his immediate whereabouts.