SOLDIERS' PAY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16309, 10 August 1917, Page 2

SOLDIERS' PAY.

CAREFULLY CHECKED. CASE OF OVERDRAWING. BROUGHT TO SUPREME COURT. Pee Peess Association. WELLINGTON, August- 9. Afc the Supreme Court a returned so-diec named Percy Charles Tite wap charged witlh tie theft of j£2l 18s 9d, as a portion of a sum £37- lis 9d, the property of ithe New Zealand GoverninoU'fc. It was alleged that accused, who was formerly in the Grenadier Guards, left New Zealand as a Sergeant in, the New Zealand Engineers, and had overdrawn amounts due to him. In giving evidence, Tite said bo volunteered -the day war broke out and he was on the Peninsula from 25th April to September, after which he *veut _ to Malta, where he remained in various hospitals and convalescent- camps. Till the time he went to Malta he was operating on his original pay-book. This pay-book was lost in Malta owing to his clothes being taken away to be fumigated, aud then he did not know wlrat he bad drawn. He tried to got the pay-book back, but could not and the pay Sergean'o gave him a second book. After he received the first paybook back he handed back the other book at Malta.. When the eeeend paybook was issued to him at Ma!!oa he did not tell the issuing Sergeant of his allotment, because lie was in bed, suffering from dysentery-. When he came out of hospital he told tho pay sergeant of the mistake, and the latter eaid it did not mat/cer as the original pay-book would soon be back from tho fumigating station. After he reported it he did not 'think it his duty to have the matter fixed up, nor did he think he had overdrawn any pay. The jury without leaving tho box returned a verdict of not guilty and Tite was discharged. His Honour remarked that there was nothing against his character. He thought the jury bad done the right thing. Tbpre. was "o*' I 'ri nr to shen- tli:it accused had acted wrongly, although he misrht have acted cn.re'osslv. and should have been more c:ireF"l. He rlso felt- it- bis duty to sav tha'r tho Defence Department deserved no blame in the matter. Tee 'Deo;>rtmont seemed to be looting after its finance properlv. and be w to so n that. Hie accounts were cheeked and looked i after as they bad been.