£4700 FORGERY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1929, Page 6

£4700 FORGERY

BANK CLERK’S LAPSE (By Telegraph—Press Association). AUCKLAND, July 19. A charge of forging a draft for £4,700 011 the Bank of Now South Wales at New Plymokith, was preferred in the Police Court against Samuel Fabian Wills, aged 21 years, a clerk employed in the Auckland branch of the bank. Detective Power, who arrrsted accused at Parnell 011 the evening of July 11 tli, produced a statement made by the accused. In bis statement, the accused said that he had been in the bank’s service for four and a-half years. He got £3 10s a week at the bank, and for some time past be bad been rather exceeding his income with his expenses. The idea of obtaining the money came to him on Friday, July 5 the day before be was to commence a fourteen days’ holiday leave. The next morning, July 6th, the accused took a blank draft form from a book on the Inquiry Counter, and also procured a clearing voucher used in conjunction with the form. During the morning he filled in a draft for £4,700 in favour of “Alfred Clifton Davis,” purely an imaginary name on the New Plymouth Blanch of the Bank of New South Wales. He signed the names of “J. McWilliams,” acting assistant accountant; and “M. Pocock,” a girl clerk. His next step was to fill in the clearing voucher, which is a slip sent by the bank to the branch at New Plymouth, or to other branches, advising them of the issue of a-draft, the name of the payee, and sometimes containing a specimen signature. This clearing voucher is sent by post, and when the draft is presented, the particulars on the draft must compare with the particulars ou the clearing voucher. The accused filled in this voucher, advising the Bank of New South Wales at New Plymouth of the issue of a draft for £4,700 to “A. C. Davis,” and again on this voucher, he signed the name of “J. McWilliams." This voucher he placed in an envelope containing other office correspondence to the Bank of New .South Wales at Now Plymouth.

The accused next motored to Wanganui in his own car on the following day, Sunday, July 7, and on the Tuesday he drove through to New Plymouth. He presented the draft for £4,700 at the branch of [lie Bank of New South Wales, and, on its being accepted, t!if> accused made a deposit of £4, 650 in, the name that he had put on the draft, and lie drew £509 in cash. He also procured three counter cheque forms. He then went to the Bank of New Zealand at New Plymouth, and paid in a. cheque for £2,509, for telegraphic transfer to its Hamilton Branch, also procuring at the same time a letter of identifica- ■ tion to Hamilton.: Later,in the day lie went back to t/lie Bank of New South Wales and cashed a cheque of £2OOO, taking this money away with him. This loft a credit balance. of £l4l in the' bank. Tlie 1 ' accused now drove back to Wanganui, where his people lived and on the same night he caught the Limited express from Marton to Frankton Junction. He called at the Bank of New Zealand at Hamilton next day (Wednesday, July 10) and tendered bis ;,letter of identificatoin, and obtained' £2,509, less the exchange and telegraphic fees. Fie came on to Auckland the same day and made deposits of money in banks here in his own name, this being the first time be bad reverted to his own name during the whole transaction. He deposited £6OO at each of three branches of the Auckland Savings Bank, also £6OO on fixed deposit' at each of two branches of the National Bank; and £BOO on fixed deposit at the Newton Branch of the Union Ban’:, lie also bought a motor car for .'SO in name of a young lady friend. When ;;nested on Thursday JVly 11. ti c •'ccused had £375 in his possession, i :.is left £lO7 to account for. •!>.. is money he had spent on clothes, travelling expenseso and various items which lie could not give in detail. Evidence was given bv the 'two Auckland bank officers wlio.se signatures were:forged. J. A. McWilliams, Acting Assistant Accountant, said that when the clearing voucher was received from New Plymouth on Thursday, July 1.1, the New Plymouth branch was immediately'' communicated with by' telephone. 'l’lie signature of witness’s name on the voucher was a good imitation of his own signature, and he thought it had been traced. Mena Pocock. a young woman clerk said that the signature purporting to he hers was not anything like it. R. H. Vincent, Teller at the New Plymouth Branch of the Bank of New South Wales, said that the accused in presenting the draft, told him that lie was it solicitor practising in Auckland and gave- 1 bis address. The draft corresponded with the clearing voucher received by post from the Auckland < branch, and witness acted upon the draft as if all was in order. The no- , eused signed the name .“Alfred Clin- 1 ton Davis.” and this agreed with the ( the clearing voucher. ; The accused pleaded guilty. 1 He was committed to the Supremo c Court for sentence. t Bail was fixed at £560. I