ACCOUNTANT’S SUICIDE

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1926, Page 11

ACCOUNTANT’S SUICIDE

CASH SHORTAGE REVEALED SEQUEL TO THE AUDITOR'S VISIT. EVIDENCE IN CHRISTCHURCH CASE By Telegraph.—Press Association. . Christchurch, Dee. 6. “He was surprised to see me, and, after showing me where the books were, he left the office. When next I saw him lie was dead. In the meantime I had found a shortage of £450 in the firm’s cash, of which he had been in charge.” These were the words of W. E. Best, auditor, who gave evidence at the adjourned inquest on James Adair Hall, accountant for the Hawarden branch of the Farmers’ Co-operative Society, who was found dead last Wednesday. The coroner, Mr. Lawrv, gave a verdict of suicide by poisoning. Best said lie visited Hawarden to audit the books without giving notice of his intention. He asked Hall for two receipt blocks, aud he walked to his overcoat and took something from the pocket and left the office. Witness thought he had gone to get the blocks. When he found the shortage he made inquiries for Hall, but was informed he was not on the premises. Subsequently he was found in the stable quite dead. His face was painfully distorted. Feek, manager of the drapery department, said he told witness he had seen deceased in the chaffhouse, and told him witness wanted him. Hall replied he would go to the office in ten minutes’ time. “Feek came back,” said witness, ‘“but did not inform me he had seen Hall. I cannot understand that action on his part. The first intimation I had that anything untoward had happened was when I saw the body. They told me nothing, but just led me to him. Feek acted as though he enjoyed the whole tragedy, which had shocked me intensely.”