THEFT FROM FIRM

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 104, 26 January 1935, Page 21

THEFT FROM FIRM

Storeman Before Court DEALING WITH CUSTOMER A storeman who had served Briscoe. E. W. Mills, and Co., Ltd., for 20 years, faced a charge of theft in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday. He was accused of stealing motor body building material, valued at £4O from his firm. Outlining the police case, DetectiveSergeant T. Y. Hall said a customer of the firm concerned had had his credit stopped. Accused was approached by the man for certain goods, and gave them to the value of about £4O. In a statement to the police, accused had frankly told of his dealings with the customer. He had reco ,- ded the goods he had disbursed to the customer, and had several times asked him to pay for what he had obtained. Some money, about £6 or £7, paid by the customer off the purchase price was retained by accused and converted to his own use. Mr. E. Page, S.M., asked what accused’s intention was when be handed the firm’s goods to the customer. Debtor and Creditor. Mr. Hall replied that, undoubtedly his firstsintention had been to pay the money into the firm as cash sales, but later be had retained about the sum mentioned. The prosecutor then applied to have the charge altered to one of theft of money, which the Magistrateagreed to. For accused, Mr. F. Ongley said he pleaded guilty to the theft of between £5 and £7, but not guilty to the theft of the goods. He had no intention of stealing them, but had created the relationship of debtor and creditor as between the customer and Briscoe, E. W. Mills. Fie had been soft in giving way to the customer’s importunities, but had no intention to steal. Mr. Hall mentioned that accused had previously borne a good character. The system in operation at the firm was one that enabled accused’s action to be done easily. “I understand,” said Mr. Hall, “that the shortage in accused’s department amounts to something like £IOQO. This is looked upon as a serious thing, and some of these large firms may have to close down if this sort of thing is not stopped.” The probation officer, Mr. T. P. Mills, said, thefts from employers were becoming increasingly common Everything in the case before the Court was so hazy that he did not know what to recommend. Mr. Page intimated that the case would be adjourned until Tuesday to enable him to go further into it.