ALLEGED DISHONESTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18344, 2 June 1931, Page 7

ALLEGED DISHONESTY.

SOLICITOR AND CLERK CHARGED LARGE SUMS INVOLVED. NON-EXISTENT MORTGAGES. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. SYDNEY, June, 1. A short time ago detectives arrested a prominent Sydney solicitoi, William Carnegie Clegg, aged 50, and his clerk, Mrs Leila Beryl Smith, aged 37, on charges of misappropriation of clients’ money. Since then many additional charges have been preferred against the two accused. When the preliminary .proceedings were begun in the Police Court today the number totalled 16. The '■ police produced a list of clients who claimed that they had been defrauded of sums ranging from £2OO to £llOO. Mrs Smith was charged with aiding and abetting Clegg in each instance. Detectives stated that many thousands of pounds were involved in the accusations. They also stated that a number of clients' mortgages did not exist, and that while several mortgages had been discharged and the money had been paid into Clegg’s office it had never been accounted for. '

It was. alleged that various subterfuges were employed when olients sought their money. Mrs Smith, who carried out most of the conveyancing, told the detectives that everything ■was legitimate so far as she was aware. The hearing of the case was adjourned. ~ ■