GAMBLING BLAMED

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1929, Page 8

GAMBLING BLAMED

y DUNG AIA N’S DOWN FAL L

DUNEDIN, Febraury 55

Association with a gambling set and heavy speculation on the racecourse led to the downfall of Howard William Thomas, who pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to theft of .£290 Is (id. the property of Henry Schneidemnn, at various dates between February 4th and February 19th. Henry Wiiiian Schneideman, clothing merchant, with headquarters at Wellington, said his firm had a branch shop in Dunedin. The accused had been in his employ for three years past as manager of the Palmerston North and Hastings branches, and for the past four months as manager of the Dunedin branch. On I‘ebruary (sth witness received a debit note from his bank in Dunedin if or the sum of £55. On February 21st lie came to Dunedin to investigate. He found that £6l was placed to his credit on February 4th. That amount included the cheque for £55. Enquiries showed that the £6l 19s consisted of the takings for the day and was paid into the bankon February 4th. The cheque was subsequently cashed. Witness made fuitlier enquiries and found that there was a shortage in the banking account of £6l Is 6d between February 4th and and 19th. Witness went through his stock books and 'found that there were goods missing to the amount of £79. The cash and value of the goods amounted to £203 Is bd. Detective Iveriton said that on February 23rd lie interviewed accused at the shop. Accused made a statement in the course of which he said he was a single man, 28 years of age. He was receiving a weekly wage of £6 plus commission, which brought the total to £8 14s 6d. At the beginning of February lie became mixed up with a gambling set and borrowed a cheque for £55 and used the firm’s cash to square his debts. The cheque was not met at the bank and lie started to retain money on suits sold in the shop. 'He lost £4O at the AVingatui races on the first day and lost about £55 the next day. Vie had since been ill and unable to attend to business.

■ Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court ‘for sentence. Bail was allowed.