SOLICITOR ADMITS THEFT

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1933, Page 7

SOLICITOR ADMITS THEFT

DEFALCATIONS OVER £2OOO NAPIER MAN AWAITS SENTENCE. THREE CHARGES OF FORGERY. FIRM’S ACCOUNTANT’S DISCOVERY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Napier, Last Night. A plea of guilty was entered by Albert Lionel Bailey, solicitor, Napier, to five charges—one involving the theft of £2lll 11 S nd, tlrree of forgery and one of making a false declaration—when he appeared on remand before Justices of Peace in the Police Court to-day. Bailey was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence. In entering a plea of guilty to all charg es> Mr. Gifford, who appeared for Bailey, said that as Bailey had made a full statement and admitted all the offences, he trusted the proceedings would be shortened as much as possible. Cedric William White, accountant for Humphries and Humphries, solicitors, Napier, for the past five months, said that shortly after he commenced duties his suspicions were aroused regarding several ledgers. He immediately made investigations and as a result found serious defalcations in many accounts. With embezzlements or other moneys not accounted for to the firm the defalcations totalled £2lll Ils lid. Refunds made by Bailey totalled £440 13s, leaving a nett shortage of £1670 18s lid..

To counsel, White stated Bailey had given him every assistance to clear up the whole matter. Evidence was given by Detective-Ser-geant Bickerdike that Bailey called at the detective office and made a statement admitting the theft of money the property of Humphries and Humphries. He was then arrested and charged with theft, being afterwards released on bail. At the time of the arrest the total amount of money stolen was not known but investigation showed the amount misappropriated to be that with which he was charged. On June 21 Bailey made a further statement, to which he made additions on June 28. Prior to making that statement he was shown the statement made by White. That Bailey said was true. Bailey had given every assistance to clear up the offences.