THE RITCHIE CASE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 872, 25 November 1916, Page 12

THE RITCHIE CASE.

THEFT OF TRUST FUNDS. EXTENSIVE DEFALCATIONS. The hearing of further charges against George Berry Ritchie for the misappropriation of trust moneys was continued yesterday afternoon. The total amount of the defalcations was £3309 10/-. Mr S. G. Raymond, K.C., conducted the case for the prosecution. The accused was represented by Mr Alpers. John Andrew Ambrose, assistant land registrar, produced mortgages to the Kruse estate, lodged in the Larfd Transfer Office, which had been subsequently discharged. John Roberts Cuningham, a solicitor, said that as instructed by the Kruse estate he had received on July 27, 1910, from Ritchie, certain documents and securities. He had investigated the securities registered at the Land Transfer Office mentioned in the books of the estate. The accused had also rendered the witness assistance during the morning in arriving at figures in connection with the estate. On the books belonging to the estate, securities registered stood at £7130, while cash in hand was shown as £770, making a total of £7900. The securities in existence really were £3930, while £IOO could I be deducted off this amount which a mortgagor named King claimed he had paid Ritchie off the amount of his mortgage. There were also receipts for £4OO paid to beneficiaries which Ritchie had paid under the will. The total deficiency unaccounted for was thus roughly £3OOI, but this sum included amounts which the accused had already pleaded guilty to appropriating. To Mr Alpers: There was no trace amongst the papers of Ritchie having ever rendered a bill of costs for work done or of ever having deducted the usual commission for the collection of interests. Mr Alpers: Is it probable that if proper accounts for services rendered and for commissions had been made on the estate by the accused, the amount of the defalcations would have been reduced by a substantial sum? Mr Cuningham: Yes. The accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed, self in £SOO and in two other sureties of £250 each.