THEFT OF BUTTER

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1928, Page 4

THEFT OF BUTTER

SALESMAN PLEADS GUILTY. By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright. WELLINGTON, July 18. Serious shortages in the stock of butter bold in Joseph Nathan and Coy’s butter printing factory at Tliorndon were revealed recently, and an extensive investigation of the receipt books was instituted. This was followed by the appearance in Court to-day of Arthur Hobbs, salesman, aged 27, who was charged with stealing 500 boxes of butter, valued at £IOOO.

Edwards, the firm’s merchandise manager, gave evidence in regard to the method of stocktaking and of the keeping of accounts, in the course of which he stated that, early in March, as the result of something he heard, he counted the boxes in stock, and found that a number of empty ones bad been placed among the full ones, the shortage being 520, and the deficiency 33.7-:-! lbs. Twenty boxes bad since been accounted for. At the previous stocktakings, the boxes were merely counted, and were not checked as to whether thov contained butter or not.

To counsel, witness said that his inference was that there had been collusion, and not negligence. Hobbs was a delivery driver, and was supplied with delivery hooks.

A grocer, Neil, gave evidence ns to having invariably paid Hobbs in cash or in second-hand cheques.

Hughes, the assistant-secretary of the firm, said that lie had obtained from many of the customers receipts they had been given by Hobbs. Also altogether the accused had received £424 19s lOd, representing a value of 122 boxes not accounted for. He described the system by which shortages were hidden by Hobbs in manipulating tho voucher book. Actually 122 boxes were traced to Hobbs, hut the total shortage' was 500. It appeared to witness that someone had been in collusion with Hobbs. It was probable that part' of the money collected by him was shared with someone else, hut witness had no definite proof of that. Counsel said accused would plead guilty. He asked that the following statement be recorded in the depositions : “ I have entered a plea of guilty to tho whole charge, with a view' to saving expenses to all parties concerned by a protracted trial. I admit having derived benefit from the theft of such boxes of butter as are traced to me, but I have received nothing directly or indirectly from any greater number.” The accused was committed for sentence*.