AUCKLAND THEFT CHARGE

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1933, Page 7

AUCKLAND THEFT CHARGE

ALLEGATIONS BY ACCOUNTANT. “SUICIDE RATHER THAN ARREST.”

By Telegraph—Press Association; Auckland, Last Night. The hearing of the charges of stealing. £lBB3 and forging a stock sheet faced by James Millward Houston, aged 44, company director, was continued in the Police Court to-day. An accountant alleged that when he commenced his investigations Houston told him he would commit suicide rather than be arrested. A bank teller said Houston operated the account for Hobart Berkel (N.Z.). Ltd., and sometimes personally cashed cheques that had previously been paid in to the credit of the company. The Wellington manager of the company, Reuben Armquist, said, that m July, 1931, he sent Houston particulars of stocks at Wellington. Hehad since found that the lists supplied by Houston to John Bums and Company showed additional machines not shown m quist’s lists and not m stock,. The Bums company supplied hardware in which Houston - dealt. • Charles Archibald Deuxberry, accountant for John Bums and Co, Ltd., gave evidence regarding a request to Houston to produce his books. Deuxberry said: “Houston told me if it was my intention to make a detailed examination of the affairs' of his company I a deficiency totalling over £4OOO. He further stated I had taken a mg load off his mind. John Burns and Company, particularly Robert Burns, had always treated him remarkably well and the fact that he had betrayed their confidence had caused him so much worry that he had been driven nearly mad. Deuxberry said that on April 29, when he took possession of the keys of Houston’s business premises, safe and postal box and the firm’s motor-car, Houston stated that should he learn information for criminal proceedings had been laid against him he- would immediately, .conk mit suicide. If the police endeavoured to serve a warrant on him they could have his dead body as he had no intention of facing any charges. Deuxberry told Houston such threats would not influence him in doing what witness considered his duty. The hearing was adjourned.