SALESMAN’S THEFTS

Evening Star, Issue 23678, 11 September 1940, Page 6

SALESMAN’S THEFTS

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT ROBBED ACCIDENTAL. LOSS THE BEGINNING [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 11. The accidental loss of £44, followed by a period of unsuccessful endeavour to make it up, was given by Abel Herr Edie (46). a salesman, in a statement to the police read in the Police Court to-day as the reason why he stole £465 19s from the Internal Marketing Department, by whom he was employed. He pleaded guilty to the charge of theft and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Edie’s statement said his round covered the eastern suburbs and the Hutt Valley, and he collected from customers about £l5O daily. • In December, 1939, he lost £44. He worried about that and did not say anything to the department, as he was afraid he would lose his job. He thought that by gambling on. the races and playing poker he might recover the loss. He took other money and lost it in gambling, and began drinking. This went on till last month, when he found himself £SOO short.