CATCHING A THIEF.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12088, 17 August 1917, Page 4

CATCHING A THIEF.

MINISTER'S DRAMATIC BECTTAL. [Facnr Orit C'or.EEsroxDENT. ] Vt'ELLIXOTOX, Au-iust- 16. " It's quite a? guoti as a play, ' declared tiu> Hon 0. V.'. Russell. Minister of Hospitals. in telling Pnrlianicnt, how the perpetrator ofr extensive defalcations in the mental hospitals oranen was discovered. Tins man was a confidential clerk, who was the- last oliieial handle vouchers before goinr; to the 'ireasury. Ho. ma:]e out ikviur>us vouchers. to an absolutely fictitious person, v. ho held a post oflicc box and iiad a banking account. he;i the man casiicd a cheque in payment of the. fraudulent, vouchers ho usually soon rod it. in notes. Suspicion being aroused, the clerk v.-as detained lor Several hours in his office- till a. clerk at the bank, where he had a special account, was found to face him. When the bank clerk came l,e was asked: "Who is that clerk?" He replied, giving the fictitious name, ?o the detectives knew they had their man. • They did not wait for a warrant," continued Mr Russell, " but threw the man down, sat on his chest, and pulled from tlio prisoner's pockets £"2CCO in bank notes." This was the case of a man who was a watch-dog, but who, if the House would permit a mixed metaphor, picked their pockets.