RETURNED SOLDIERS CARELESSNESS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1917, Page 1

RETURNED SOLDIERS CARELESSNESS.

LEADS TO CHARGE OF

FRAUD

Wellington, Aug 6

At tlie Supreme Court to-day a returned soldier named Percy Charles Tite AA r as charged with the tlieit of ißs 9d —a portion of the sum of Irs 9 c h the property of the New Zealand Government. It was alleged that the accused, who was formerly in the Grenadier Guards, left New Zealand as a sergeant in the New Zealand Engineers, and had overdrawn the amounts due to him. Tite, in his evidence, said that lie volunteered the day the war broke out. He was on the Peninsula from .April 25 to September, after which lie went to Malta, where he remained in various hospitals and convalescent camps. Till the time he was in Malta he was operating on his original pav-book. This pay-book was lost in Malta owing to his clothes being taken away ,to be fumigated, and then he did not know what he*Jiad drawn. He tried to get liis pay-book back, but could not, and the pay sergeant gave him a second book. After he had received his first pay-book back, he handed back the other book. He did not tell the issuing sergeant ot the allotment, because he was in bed suffering freim. dysentery. When he got out of the-hospital he told the pay sergeant of tne mistake, and the latter said it did hot matter, as the original pay-book would soon be back from tlie fumigating station. After he reported it he did not think it his duty to have the matter fixed up, heir did lie think he was overdrawn in any way.

The jury, without leaving the box, returned a verdict df not guilty, and Tite was discharged, his Honor remarking that there was nothing against his character. His Honor thought the jury had done the right tiling. There was nothing to show that accused had acted wrongly, although lie might have acted carelessly, and should hape been more careful. He also felt it his duty to say that the Defence Department deserved ito blame in the matter. The Department seemed to be looking after its .finances properly, t and, fie was, glad to see that The. accounts were checked an d looked after a's tfiey had been.