BOND MONEYS STOLEN

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1931, Page 8

BOND MONEYS STOLEN

WELLINGTON WOMAN’S THEFTS. WELLINGTON, October 21. After hearing, evidence from thirteen of her former motor-drivers, in additmn to that of other- employees, of how they had. entered into fidelity bonds to secure employment, in ‘‘a big. firm, and of how they had never seen thenbond moneys again, Nellie Limpus, described as a domestic, aged 48, altered her original 1 r plea, and answered ‘‘Guilty” to thirteen charges of the theft of bond .moneys involving more than £7oo,.and one of. false pretence preferred against, her in the Magistrate’A,iCourt to-day. The Magistrate, Mr E. Page, S.M., committed her to the Supreme Court for sentence.

f : Twenty witnesses were called. Nearly all of .these had answered an advertisement calling for drivers, who would be required to enter into a fidelity bond of £SO if engaged by accused’s conpany, the Hodgson Transport Company. With one-.exception, they said they had not received their bond money back again.- Most <of them also had not -received wages.

Counsel for Mrs Limpus said at the end of the. day . that he would reverse his plea of not .guilty, originally entered. Evidence,, was given of the purchase of trucks and the engagement of drivers, who wqr©. required to enter into fidelity, bonds of £25 or £SO. Accused mnnaged the business. Her home, after the receipt of the bond moneys was run on more extravagant lines. She travelled to work in taxis. Detective Fell, said he had seen Mrs Limpus on September 3rd.- and told her that it was alleged that she was running her business on bond money which belonged to her employees. She denied this, but when .seen on September 11th. she said that she had paid £25 of bond money as a deposit on. a lorry and she had 4ent £2OO to her brother, a farmer at To. Kuiti. ; She refused to give the names of her brother, however, and witness ha<] been unable to find any trace of hinn ■ She had then been arrested. . '