THEFT CHARGES

Southland Times, Issue 20525, 29 June 1928, Page 7

THEFT CHARGES

INSURANCE CANVASSER

ALLEGATIONS DENIED BY ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL (Per United Frets Association.) Auckland, June 28. Algernon James Body (aged 56), an insurance canvasser, who had previously been employed by the Southern Cross Assurance Company, Ltd., Wellington, appeared in the dock at the Police Court on fifteen charges of failing to account to his company for a total sum of £163 9/9 collected, thereby committing theft. The money was collected in every case from women, principally school teachers and nurses, whom accused had insured.

All gave evidence stating that they had paid their premiums to Body, but had not received their policies. Frank R. Burnham, general secretary of the New Zealand Southern Cross Company at Wellington, gave evidence. Accused, he said, was appointed an agent of the company on September 12 of last year. He was under an agreement, which he signed. This provided that all moneys collected should be banked in the name of the company. A month later witness became suspicious as some of the receipt butts showed they had not been issued in sequence. He qvrote to Body on two occasions, but did not receive any reply from him. Later a number of complaints were, received from people whom accused had insured stating they could not obtain their policies. The company had received neither the money collected nor the proposals from accused. In each case the company had since honoured the proposals secured by accused and had issued the policies. Body was paid on a commission basis only.

Mr Dickson (who appeared for accused) ; That’s the whole trouble. The money due him was not sent. Body owns 75 per cent, of the £163 he collected.

In a statement produced by ActingDetective Waterson, Body said he did not forward a proposal or the money owing to a misunderstanding concerning the proposals. He intended going to Wellington to complete the business and effect a settlement, but was arrested before he had time to do so. He denied he had failed to account for the money collected or that he intended to steal it. Body, who pleaded not guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was increased from £5O to one surety of £250 or two of half that amount.