ALLEGED THEFT.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18808, 2 December 1932, Page 7

ALLEGED THEFT.

CHARGES AGAINST SOLICITOR. LEAHY COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. AUCKLAND, Friday. In the Police Court five charges of the theft of sums of money, totalling £l2if, 8s iOd, were, preferred against Charles Slewart Leahy, aged -i i, a former solicitor. Accused was charged with stealing £315, the property of Reginald Roberts, on March 1, 1932; £l6 on March 2, 1925, and between then and May 18, 1931, sums totalling a further £502, all the properly of Thomas James O’Hagen; £23 13s lOd on May 7, 1930, the property of Jack Lipanovich; £225 from Jack Lipanovich on July 8; and £134 15s on July 3, the property of Parkinson Brothers. Detective-Sergeant Doyle said he Interviewed accused on November 2 in connection with the last charge, and told him that Mr Parkinson complained that £134 15s paid to accused on behalf of Parkinson, had not been accounted for. Accused said: "I cannot say what I am going to do about Parkinson’s complaint, but i am certainly going to tight Roberts." Dealing with the alleged theft of £315 from Reginald Roberts, Mr jioylo said he told accused on September 1 that a complaint had been made i,v a man named Roberts that he had advanced accused £315 on behalf of one Sowdcn, accused to prepare and give him a first mortgage on a property at llomai, and a bill of sale over Sowden's furniture as security. Roberts found, however, that the money was never paid to Sowdcn, and that lie never owned any property at llomai. Accused said Roberts advanced the money, and after the deal fell through, with the consent of Roberts, he advanced the money to Lipanovich, and Roberts knew all about it. 'When arrested on this charge, accused made no reply. Accused pleaded not guilty to the charges proceeded with, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.