FALSIFYING BOOKS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 144, 13 March 1919, Page 6

FALSIFYING BOOKS

CHARGES AGAINST A DAIRY COMPANY'S SECRETARY. By Telegraph.—Association. Auckland, March 12. The trial of Stephen Airey 011 a third charge of embezzlement of funds belonging to the Ilokianga Co-operative Dairy Company, of which ho was the secretary, was concluded at the Supremo Court. The grand jury had six indictments before them, each comprising four counts. Each indictment referred to offences alleged to have been, committed on different dates. Accused was tl'icd nnd acquitted 011 the first indictment, and later lie was tried and acquitted 011 the second indictment. To-day ho was tried on tlio third indictment, containing the four counts. At the conclusion of accused's examination Mr. Reed referred to the action of. the Crown Prosecutor in challenging over 30 jurymen. By that proceeding the Crown had practically selected the jury, though lie did not believe this would affect the verdict. As far as counsel knew, the action of the Crown was without precendent in New Zealand. His Honour said it had been done before. Mr. Reed: Thero have never been so many challenges. His Honour! I think so. In this cast a jury with a knowledge of bookkeeping was required, and I think Mr. Tole acted correctly in challenging those jurymen, who, in his opinion, had 110 knowledge of the subject. A special jury should have been secured and eliosen beforehand. Mr. Reed said he had neyer known «o many men to be stood aside by the Crown. T'k Tl/>tinur fi-i'l U 'i"i| Wv-n done before. He remembered one case in which it was necessary to recall men who lmd been challenged in order to secure the full number of jurymen. Mr. Tole said his object 'had been to secure the most intelligent iury possible. Tho jury returned a verdict of irnilty on. the third count, that of _ falsifying the books of the with intent to defraud, with a strong recommendation to mercy on the. ground that the directors of the company were aware of accused's intemperate habits, and failed to take proper precautions. Sentence was deferred.