An Officer in Trouble

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 March 1916, Page 2

An Officer in Trouble

DiEPALOATICLNS ADMJTOBD. Auckland, Marc i t. An ex-Territorial officer's rela/tions iu. connection with the regimen-' tai maintenance found of the 3rd Auckland Regiment were concerned m a case heard before Mr Fraser at the Police Court. Oecil Lyttletbn id-aw-Kms, who held a captain's commission forces, and w;.s at one time adjutant on tlie permanent staff of the defence of the 3rd Auckland Infantry Reg'meut, was charged with forging th« name ol J. H. Farslow to a receipt iur £'2 life, and with presenting it to Alfred Bartlett, Officer Commanding the 3rd Auckland llegiment, so as to cause him to act upon it as if it were genuine. He was e further charged with appropriating various sums ot mnn^y. Oyrii George Collins, Government Audit Inspector, stationed at 'Auckland, stated that the acused, in It is capacity as adjutant to the 3rd Auckland Regiment, was responsible ior th« care of the Government Maintenance grant. Witness Jiad audited the accounts of the regiment on January -i ot the present year, and he proceeded to give m detail the "result ol the whole of his investigations iu'.o tti« operations 01 the accused in connection with the regimental fund. He said that in many instances he could liiid no receipts ior moneys paid, indicating that moneys Had been mir, appropriatedi. in an interview tho witness had had with the accused on .February 18 last, Hawkins cad slated that iie was heavily in deb*, antl ne had badiy neededi the money, but he thought he had "squared" all matters up before he left with the Main Body of tho Expeditionary Force. A statement made in writing by accused was handed in. ln_ it accused stated that no had drawn cheques on the regimental fund for the purpose of paying severaj tradesmen, but owing to financial difficulties andi to tide e over pressure from money-lenders and others, he cashedi 'the cheques and converted the money to his own use. It was nis intention to make good tho aioney before the audit, but the war | oroke out, and he was ordered on service with the Main Body of the fispeditionairy Force. He was inclined to make application to remain to JN'«w Zealand, but fearing that such an application frj»m au officer of the per. maiient staff would cause public comment he decided to obey orders. He proceeded to Egypt, but the knowSedge of' the defalcations preyed upon his mind, aildi he broke down in health en route and was invalided back to New Zeaiand. It was his intention to make restitution of ail] 'Honeys appropriated. I lie accused iormalj(y pleaded guilty and waa committed, to the Hamilton •Supreme Court for sentence.