DRUMMOND, THE DEFAULTER.

Evening Star, Issue 3490, 30 April 1874, Page 3

DRUMMOND, THE DEFAULTER.

The following is the story told in the Richmond Police Court (Victoria) as to how George Morris Drummond perpetrated his “little swindle” ;—The Provincial and Suburban Bank had an account with the Oriental Bank, Melbourne, which could be drawn upon by the joint signature of Drummond, as manager, and Mr Kiddle, accountant of the bank. On January 12, a cheque for LSOO was drawn by these two, and Drum-i mond went away in order to get the money for it. When he returned, he told Riddle that the Oriental Bank wonld not cash it; and saying that it was of no more use, tore up a piece of paper which looked like the cheque. Riddle acquiesced in the destruction of the cheque, and cancelled the “block” in his possession. On Friday, January 23, four days later, Drummond took L 250 away from the bank in order to lodge it in the Oriental Bank. When the pay slip was returned, it purported to be initialed by Mr Inwood, receiving teller at the Oriental Bank, but it afterwards transpired that the initials were forged, and the money was never lodged. That same day Drummond opened an account at the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank, in the name of G, Morrison and Co., whom he described as sharebrokers, of Collins street. At this time he lodged L 260 to their credit. The day following—Saturday, January 24—he cashed the. X/ 500 cheque, which was drawn on the 12th, and alleged to have been destroyed by Him. For this he received twenty-five L2O-notes, which he at once took to the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank, making a total of L760t0 the credit of G, Morrison and Co. He then drew a cheque for L 660 against this account, and received it all in gold—half sovereigns. That same afternoon he left Melbourne for New Zealand by the Claud Hamilton. In the course of the investigation, it transpired that his salary as manager was only L 126 per annum, with house rent.