INSURANCE AGENT'S THEFTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 94, 17 October 1940, Page 8

INSURANCE AGENT'S THEFTS

.('By Telegraph ■■■■Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, October 16,

Ernest Clement. O'Malley, insurance agent, appeared in the Supreme Court charged with theft in failing to account for £50 received on December 2, 1938, from Flora Jessie Gillies, of West Melton, and for £5 17s 2d, received on April 25, 1939, from Samuel William Higgins, on terms requiring him to pay the money to the Australian Provincial Assurance Association.

Mr. Justice Northcroft said it was true that the moneys had been paid to O'Malley for the company, but had been used by him personally. The company's behaviour in retaining O'Malley's services for a time might suggest that it did not consider his action criminal. Against him was the fact that he did not inform the company that he had kept the money. After a brief retirement the jury found O'Malley guilty, but added a strong recommendation for mercy, as the company had more or less condoned the offence.

O'Malley was remanded for sentence on the charge stated, and also on two charges to which he had pleaded guilty, that he defrauded Annie Blaney st Dunedin on September 7, 1939, of £ 4 19s 6d and Reginald John Scholium at Rakaia on June 3, 1939, of £4 15s.

Permission was given by the Wellington City Council last night for a temporary building, to be built adjoining the Hotel Waterloo in Bunny Street to accommodate administrative- officers of the Air Department.