A CLERK'S CONFESSION.
THE FIRE AT J. REID AND CO.'S. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 27. Somerville in his confession made the following statement: The last balance was to_ January 31st, 1903. I showed about £7OOO of debts when the actual amount shouH have been £4OOO. This has been worrying me, nearly driving me mad, and I did not know what to do. At ten minutes past five p.m. on Tuesday. February 4th, 1903, I left the office and came Lome to my house at Mount Roskill. I returned, to a meeting, left there at 9.45 p.m., went to the office, and decided to burn the place to hide the errors in the books. I got to the office about fifteen minutes past tea p.m. I had a kev to the front door, entered and opened the safe in the office, took out the ledger and cheque books, and put them on the floor, got an arm full of straw from the back of the store, and scattered it over the books. I also sprinkled two bottles of methylated spirits on the lot. I slammed the front don- after me when I opened the safe, and before setting fire to the premises I took nil the money out and put it in my pocket and took it home to save it. The amount was £35 in gold and notes, which I handed over to Detective Henderson at mv house when he called.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19030328.2.23
Bibliographic details
Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12027, 28 March 1903, Page 4
Word Count
242A CLERK'S CONFESSION. Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12027, 28 March 1903, Page 4
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