ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4773, 13 October 1893, Page 3

ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT.

The Heathcote Road Board Cases. Committed for Trial. At the Ohristohurch Eesident Magistrate's Court this morning, before E. Weatenra, J. P. Jameson, and W. H Hargreaves, Esqs., William T. C. Mills" wsb charged with havingr embezzled on March 11, 1885, £20 16s 6d, and on August 5, 1885, £36 lie 6d, the moneya of the Heathcote Eoad Board. Mr Stringer prosecuted and Mr Joynt defended the accused. Mr Stringer stated that the accused waß formerly clerk to the Heathcote Eoad Board, and on the dates mentioned these sums had been paid to the B&ard by the Selwyn County Council as part of dog registration fees in that district. The cheques had been paid into the Bank by accused,' but had not been entered in the cash-book. Henry B. Kirk deposed that he was Chairman of the Board in 1885, and that accused had been clerk. W. Jameson, Clerk to the Selwyn County Council, deposed that in 1885 the Eoad Boards used to receive 50 per cent of the dog fees collected in each district. He had made payments to the Heathcote Eoad Board by the Council's cheque on March 7, 1885, of £20 16s 6d, and on August 5 of same year of .£36 11s 6cL These cheques had been posted to the Board, and a few days after each of the payments, receipts had been returned, Bigned by W. T. C. Mills, Clerk to the Heathcote Eoad Board. Samuel J. Gordon deposed that he was clerk in the Union Bank of Australia in 1885. Produced a paying-in duplicate slip made on March 11, 1885, Bigned by the -accused, paying into the Bank £70 3s 4d. The particulars on the back were in the handwriting of the accused, and included a cheque for £20 16b 6d. The paying-in Blip of August 5, 1885, in the handwriting of the accused, showed .£B9 8s 9d, including a cheque for .£36 11s 6d; both cheques were issued by the Selwyn County Council. John W. Tnrnbull, ledger-keeper at the National Bank, deposed that the Selwyn County Council, kept its account at that Bank. On March 11, 1885, a Selwyn County Counoil cheque for £2,0 16s 6d came from the Union Bank, and was paid by the National Bank. On August 5, 1885, a cheque for .£36 11s 6d also came from the Union Bank. John King, Government Audit Inspector, deposed that he had investigated the books of the Heathcote Eoad Board. The accused, as clerk should enter moneys received by him in the casebook and bank . them. Had searched the books for an entry of a sum of £20 16s 6d received from the Selwyn County Council in March, 1885. There was no record of the receipt by the Board of any such sum. ' There was no record of a sum of J836 11s 6d received in August, 1885, from the Selwyn County Counoil. Produced the cash books kept by accused, rate receipt books and ledger. On March 11, 1885, an entry appeared in the cash books showing a payment made into the Bank of £10 3s 4d. The particulars were shown as made up of rates received, and were specified sb St Martin's ward rates £10 12s lOd and HiUsborough rates £59 10s 6d. The rate receipt book showed in detail the individual amounts of rates paid, and should correspond with the lump sums in the cash-book. In the rate receipt book the accused showed the receipt of £39 for rates from the St Martin's ward and £60 1b 7d from the Hillsborough ward. On August 5, 1885, a payment made into the Bank was shown in the cash-book at £89 8s sd. The particulars wqre shown as follows :— St Martin's ward rates, £2 13s 2d; Avon Eoad Board, £42 17s 6d; Waimakariri, £4 12s lid; rates, &c. t 6s 3d; drainage rate, £30 3s lid; Aahbourne, £2 7s 9d j North Opawa, £6 11b sd. The entries in the rate receipt book gave details of the lump sums entered in the cash-book. On Oct. 3 last witnesß made a statement showing moneys deficient, and had sent it to the Eoad Board office. That statement; inoluded the two amounts of £20 16s 5d and £36 11s 6d. On Oct. 6 had seen the accused, and had spoken to him about the amounts deficient, and had said that there were further deficiencies*. Accused had complained about the statement that he had' not been supplied with particulars before the Board had seen them. He said that his son had got particulars, and that the money would be ready. Charles C. M'Carthy, clerk to the Heathcote Eoad Board, produced the minute book of the Board whereby the accused had been appointed clerk. This closed the case for the prosecution. ' The accused reserved hiß defence, and was committed to stand his trial at the next Criminal sittings of the Supreme Court. Accused was further charged with the embeatelement on Oct. 4, 1884, of £49 11s 3d. r Evidence was> given by W. Jameßon, Clerk Selwyn County Council, that in September, 18S4, the Council was in debt to the, Eoad Board in the sum of £49 11s 3d in respect to a balance due on a bridge contract. On Sept. 30 had sent the Board a cheque for the amount, and had received a receipt under the hand of W. T. C. Mills, dated Oct. 15, 1884. S. J. Gordon deposed that in September, 1884, he was teller in the Union Bank. Produced a paying-in slip for £100 9s 5d to the Board's account. A cheque for £49 lls 2d by the Selwyn County Counoil had been inoluded in this deposit. John W. Turnbull, National Bank, gave evidence that the cheque had been paid by that Bank. -John King, Audit Inspector, deposed that the cask-book of the Board showed the payment of £100 9s 5d into the Bank in October, 1884, and written down as being made up of rates collected. Had examined the books to Bee if the sum of £49 lls 3d received from the Selwyn County Council, had been accounted for. It had not been accounted for. This closed tho. case for the prosecution. The prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court. He reserved hie defence.

He was further charged with embezzling on Feb. 26, 1886. the earn of JBIS 15s fr?m> the Heathcote Boad Board. The evidence showed that the defalcation bad taken place under similar ciroumstances to the others. The accused waa commuted to take his trial at the Criminal eeßsion. Mr Joynt applied for bail to be allowed the prisoner. The Bench granted bail, and fixed it at £150 in each case, together with two sureties in each case of MO each.