TRIAL OF RESERVE BANK CLERK FOR THEFT

Chronicle (Levin), 1 November 1947, Page 7

TRIAL OF RESERVE BANK CLERK FOR THEFT

Press AssociationJ

(Per

WELLINGTON, Oct. 31. On the resumption t-odav in t!ie Su premc Court of tlie trial of Petor Edward Millett, aged 24, clerk, a previou9 xvitness, Wilfred Raymond Eggers oliief accountaut of the Iteserve Bank \vus recalled. Millett is on trial oa charges of forgery, uttcring and theft To Dr. Mazengarb, who is appearing for Millett, Eggers said he would ac cept the stateinent that Millett bad uever been on night dutv or holidav oi week-end duty at the bank. Witnes.vvould not say that Millett was not in the bank at any other tinie than when the 'whole staff or a la'rge part of the stafT was vvorking but there was no written record of him being in the hani at a tiine when others wero not there JDr. Mazengarb: Which would bt easier, for a record rooni clerk to comt through with a fraudulent transfei stamp it, initial it and leave with othei papers he is carryiug' in his hand, or tc go into the strongroom, niuuipulate tht lock and take away a number of stock eertilieates with interest coupon;attached. Witness: I would not like to say. To Mr. Cunninghani (for the Crown) witness said Millett 's usual lunch hour was noon to 1 p.m. Letween 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. there would be oue oi two persous besides Millett in the transfer room instead of the usual strength of 15. Mi4dred Louise Talbut, Heserve Bank clerk, gave evidence of the bank's proeedure in dealiug with stock eertilieates. About Mav 20 she had sonie irouble with the stock toeker. She had , turned the key. tried the handle and it had opened. Witness tested -the lock and it still opened. Millett was working nearby and witness asked him to look at the lock. Ile tried the lock but it was not operating. To Dr. Mazengarb witness said she usually carried a key to the steel cabinet with her. Occasioually she left it on her desk or in a drawer. Millett was one of those who used a typewriter in her room. Witness did not know when Millett was lirst suspected. She kuew the staff was under suspieion. She had several interviews with the police at which Eggers was usually present. tShc did not remember when accused's namc was first introduced into any conversa tion with a detective. Witness had lveard of Millett 's naine being men tioned a few davs before she read il in the newspaper. It was probably after she had heard that Millett was suspected that she told a detective that he had been the man she had called to look at the lock. Kobert Neil Fleming, internal auditor at the bank, produced the lock of the cabinet and explained what had gone wrong with it. He did not know how the trouble had occurred.