THEFTS ADMITTED

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1931, Page 6

THEFTS ADMITTED

BY BX-PUBLIC TRUST OFFICIAL,

WELLINGTON, September 16

In the Magistrate’s Court to-day, Leonard Joseph Dalton, ex-Ass*stant District Public Trustee of Wellington, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft involving £7lB 11s 2d, the property of the liquidators of the New Zealand Times Coy., and lie was committed to Supreme. Court for sentence. Evidence wais given by George Ernest nailer, District Public Trustee at Wellington, to the effect that part of the aiccusedi’s duty was to collect /regits for the liquidators and pay them into the Bank of New South Wales at Wellington. Witness asked the accused to prepare a receipt and expenditure statement for the past twelve months early in August. Accused did not do so, and he left the office shortly afterwards. The 'accounts were then investigated, and the schedule showed that £398 12s collected by the accused had not- been paid into the bank. A cheque for £428 19s 2d, drawn on the Times Coy. account for rates, had not been paid, but. the accused had put it into an accountopened in his own name at tbe National Bank. The ace,used had later accounted for £los* of tbe amount, written on the cheque. He had also notified the Trustee’s office of the defalcation before it had been found out.