SUPREME COURT.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1927, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 16. Samuel Phoenix Briggs was found guilty in the Supreme Court on the charge of having stolen £337 from his employers. Jn his statement to the jury, Briggs did not attempt to deny that he had taken the money wrongfully, but sought to show that part of the blame was Wilson’s, because there was no method in dealing with the money in the office. Briggs said he had taken the money when ms children at home were starving.

The jury added to the verdict of guilty a strong recommendation to mercy, on account of the conditions under which prisoner worked and the general laxity in the office.

INSURANCE MANAGER CHARGED. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 16. William Roy McDonald, sometime Christchurch manager of the Guardian Assurance was charged at the Supreme Court to-day with the theft of £65-1 of the Company’s funds. The evidence was that McDonald had been, prior to 1925, in the habit of borrowing various sums from the office cash, sometimes repaying tliem with cheques and T.O.U. and often nothing at all. After 1925, lie got behind in payments and his borrowings were concealed by inaccurate bookentries until the accountant went to Wellington and confessed to the General Manager. The Crown’s evidence was completed to-day. Ihe case is proceeding.