THE UNION CO.'S PAY SHEETS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1810, 24 July 1913, Page 9

THE UNION CO.'S PAY SHEETS.

FIVE MEN IN TROUBLE. [By Telturrfujb.— Frosa Association.! Auckland, July 23. Four men—-William Saunders, Ilcnry Lloyd Davis, William Henry Owens, and Hicnard Tyrcll—employed at Oneliunga by tho Union Steam Ship Co., were charged at the. Police Court to-day with conspiring to detraud the company. A lilth man namud William Caldow was charged with obtaining money from tho company by false pretences. Chief-Detective M'Mahon outlined the case for tho prosecution. He said that Saunders was employed at Oneliunga bytile company as wharfinger, and ho was empowered to liiro the requisite labour. Thursday was the customary pay-day, and it was the duty of Saunders to malco out the pay-sheets. He would then telephone to the head office in Auckland, stating the amount of money required for the week's wages. A cheque would be drawn for that amount, and, having cashed it, the pay clerk would tako tho money to Oiielninga and pay the hands. A labour order was issued to each workman, stating the amount duo to him, and this order had to be signed by Saunders. When a man was unable to be personally present to«draw his pay, a written order could be obtained authorising someone clso to obtain his pay, and to sign the receipt for it. Saunders would sign this order too. It was alleged by tho prosecution that Saunders, making use of Davies, Owens, and Tyrcll (who were employed in subordinate positions), signed many orders made out in the names of bogus workmen, and one of the four accused always signed tho receipts for theso men, who never appeared in person to claim their wages.. These alleged bogus names, however, appeared so frequently on the pay-sheets that suspicions were aroused as to their genuineness. Inquiries were set on foot, which culminateid in tho arrest'of the accused. Saunders, it was stated, had helped the detectives to find out the full- amount of tlio alleged fraud. Tho part that Caldow had played in tho matter was somewhat different, said the chief detective. He was alleged to have done some work lor the company, but to havo been credited with longer hours than those during which he really worked, and to have, in this way, received more pay than .lie was entitled to. All the accused, it was said, made signed statements after their arrest. , The accused pleaded nor guilty, -and were committed to tho Supreme Court for trial.