THEFT OF £142

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1932, Page 6

THEFT OF £142

CLERK PLEADS GUILTY. ACCOUNTS WRONGLY KEPT. CHRISTCHURCH, April 12. Pleading guilty to a charge of stealing £142 4s. 0d from Messrs AY. H. Simms and Sons, Ltd., Roland Cyiil Ray. head clerk to the firm, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence when be appeared on remand before Mr H. P. Lawry, S.AL, in the .Magistrate’s Court this morning Ray, who resides at George Sheet, New Brighton, is 31 years ot age. Bail was fixed at £IOO, with one surety of £IOO.

Frederick Edmund Jones, managing director for W. 11. Simms and Sons, Ltd., 152, Lielifiel { ] Street, said that Ray commenced his employment as clerk in his firm six years ago. Latferlv be was bead clerk, and it was his dut v to see that the accounts were properly kept, and that they were promptly paid. Early this year, witness been me suspicious o'' Ray’s dishonestv, and attended personally to the posting of accounts to some customers who were showing a debit on the firm’s books. This led t© the defalcations being discovered. Ray used to convert to his own use small cash payments made by customers, and then make »o entry of their receipt in the books. When In* received a cheque tor a large sum. In* would enter this to cover up 1 1 is previous defalcations. Witness said that, be interviewed tin* accused on February 8,*1932, and be admitted the theft of £132. His services were then dispensed with-. Witness went into the matter, anil between December 10. 1930, and February 8. 1932. found that £142 4s 9d bad been stolen.