ALLEGED THEFT OF £l800

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1933, Page 7

ALLEGED THEFT OF £l800

BUSINESS MAN’S DEALING CHARGE OF FORGING STOCK SHSrf AUCKLAND PROSECUTION BEGINS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. _ Prosecution, the hearing of which i® expected to last two days, was begun to-day of James Millward Houston, aged 44, described as a company director, who appeared on ten charges of theft of sums totalling £lBB3 and of forging a' stock sheet, causing John Burns and Co., Ltd., to act upon i» as if it were genuine. From much technical evidence given it appeared that Houston was operating an agency and business in which he succeeded his brother about 1925. He dealt in consignment stocks of hardware supplied by the Bums company, and under an agreement was required to supply the firm with notification of sales made and to remit payments therefor. In April, 1932, Houston was asked to supply a stock sheet for stocks held by him, and about July he supplied it. It was checked with the office records, and found to be correct. One witness-employed by the firm said that sometimes there were disputes regarding series numbers of pieces c2 machinery shown in Houston’s state- > ments, and Houston would • say that , some machines had to be interchanged . and that some had been sent to branches in the south.

Several witnesses gave evidence concerning . sales made to them, and produced receipts. Considerable evidence was heard and proceedings were adjourned until tomorrow.