TENNIS CLUB'S FUNDS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18898, 13 January 1927, Page 13

TENNIS CLUB'S FUNDS.

■ ■ • THEFT BY TREASURER. .' I [THE PBESS Special Sorrice.] ! WELLINGTON, January 12. Charged with the theft of sums of money totalling £7O 3s 5d belonging to the Upper Hutt Tennis Club, William Joseph Pyrtle Howe, a carpenter, aged 38, appeared at the Magistrate's Court 'to-day. ' Thomas llobertson, a resident of Upper Hutt, said that Howe was treasurer of the club for several years previous to October 14th, 1926, when lie resigned. Witness and the present treasurer, Mr Hanson, asked" him on several occasions for the balance of the club's books, and on November 11th hi said that he had placed the proceeds from a bazaar in 1924 in his private account because his wife was afraid; of having so much money in the house. Asked to withdraw the money, Howe promised to do so within a few days,' but it was not until December Ist,that he handed over a withdrawal slip for £BO. The next day witness received a letter from the accused iitating that .there were ho funds in the bank to meet the slip, and asking him not to inform anyone of the shortage. Howe did not hand over his own bank book, but an offer to repay the money by instalments was later made by his solicitors. The club was. quite prepared as late as December 10th to overlook Howe's offence provided the money was refunded. . ' Detective Kearney said that Howe, when interviewed, admitted that he had used the Club's money in his per : sonal bank account. The accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.