ALLEGED THEFT OF £2550

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 26, 23 October 1937, Page 6

ALLEGED THEFT OF £2550

-Press Association.)

Company Manager Faces Charges PALMERSTON N. CASE

"(By TeJegraph—

PALMERSTON N., This Day. • Charges of the theft of money totalPng £2550 over a period of nearly four years wero preferred against Godfrey Halse, aged 46, company manager, in Jhe Magistrate's Court to-day. Ihe charges iwere: The theft of £100 from Arthnr Shelton in Jnly, 1936; £100 from Shelton in the same month; £300 from Henry George Tucker in November 1933; £1300 from Mts Effie Hamilton in October, 1935; £100 from Mrs Hamilton in January, 1936; £300 from Grace Berry in May, 1935; and £350 from Clement Lawson in May, 1934. When the hearing of evidence was acntinued to-day, Henry George Tucker, manager of the Club Hotel, said he had known accused for many yeaTS. In November, 1933, accused said he could inyest some money for him on a shortdated Joan on an insurance policy. He said the society did not advance shortterm loans, but he had anthority to do io. At the end of three months accnsed paid the money back with the interest, but later snggested witness advance £300 on a loan on an insurance "policy. "Witness agreed to do so. Aceused said it was a confidential matter and thak the securlties were being held "by the society. He was nnder the impression that he was lending the money te Ihe society throngh its manager. Effie Scott Hamilton, widow> said her hnsband had heen employed as an agent at the Palmerston North branch of the society. She knew accused, who said he would invest her money in the society. The money was to be nsed for advanees to clients, and was to be on caM. He said he had done that for Twp mother and his mother-in-law, and that as her hnsband had been an em•ployee of the society he could do it £ Of her. On accused 's advice she drew £1300 from tho Post Office Savings Barik on October 31, 1935, and gave it to accused. She had about £70 inter#et dne, and he told her to bring anCther £12 or £15 to make it np to £100.

General Manager's Evidence Walfcer T. Ikln, manager -for New Xealand of the A.M.P. Society, said accused was manager of the Palmerston North branch until Jnly 26, 1937. He Jomed the society in 1907. At the timo he ieft the society he was receiving £770 a year. In July of this year witness interviewed accused regaTding his Snancial position, which he found to be "pretty hopeless." Accused gave him a list showing a liability of £6375. "Witness prepared a statement of his liabilities and assets for the boaTd. His total liability witness estimated at £8914 15/-. The society had no record of the loans accused was supposed to have made, and there were no securities for the society to hold. The society did not assist clients in the manner described by previons witness and would not sanction such a procednre. So far as the society was concerned the traasactions were irregular. After the interview accused was relieved of his dntles and the principal board in Sydney instructed that his services bo dispensed with. Cross-examined by Mr Oram, witness said accnsed had, by his dismissal, forfeited his right to snperannuation and any aecumulated leave. Grace Berry, matxon of the Pahiatua Pnblic Hospital, said that in May, 1935, her endowment policy for £316 maturod, a-nd she called to see Halse. At his Snggestion she gave him £300 for investment, Received No Reply Clement Lawson, company saies manmger, said he had an insurance policy for £1067 which matured in May, 1934. He left £750 with the society for which had xegnlarly received interest and had he reacived a Teceipt from Halse. He irawn from the principal, leaving £330 ■till owing to him. He had written to the society asking for the money, but had received no reply. He left the money nnder the impression it was on loan to the society. Cross-examined by Mr Oram, witness •aid Halse never on any occasion failed to pay him principal or interest when )te asked for it. Detective O. Power said that on September 17 he interviewed accused at Wellington about moneys. Accused refused to make a statement. On being told eomplaints had been received he said that with the exeeption of Tucher no demand had been made to h!m for money. On being reminded of Mrs Hamilton, .accnsed said he had forgotten ftbout the reqnest from her solicitor.