SERIOUS CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1932, Page 5

SERIOUS CHARGE

MADE BY GIRL AGAINST COMPANY AUDITOR. / -' ’ ' v . ' ->' . ‘ ’ « >. ■ (Per Press Association — Copyright.) WELLINGTON, August 10. Allegations, that she had been kept in a dark room by.the auditor, employed by J., R„ McKenzie Limited and uad been put through * a form of the '‘‘txi’.rd degree’’., to ■ force her to write a confession of theft, from cash registers of the firm’s 'Cuba Street shop, in which she was employed as saleswoman, were made at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, by Thelma Jean Adams, .who sued .the Company for £2 7s, as a week’s wages, in lieu ,of notice for alleged wrongful dismissal. • She also claimed £5, in respect of staff shares, which she contended, sine was entitled to Receive, together with interest on the amount at ten per cent, per annum.

The plaintiff, who denied,. in evidence, that she ha.’ ever stolen any of McKenzie’s money, admitted . f writing a confession .to stealing a total of £lB 155,. 'but ,«be said that' this confession had been dictated by th©\accountant, at the end of a lengthy examination, during 'which she became a nervous wreck, and .was willing to do anything to get away from the office, ( where she was detained 'for two and’ s-hulf hours. .

It was alleged' that the girt was kept in the room without a light for a conisiderable period, and that she had been put. through the worst form of th* “third degree” methods, said her counsel. , ■ "• . ■■

The girl, in her evidence, said that she ’was asked to go upstairs on March 23rd. There was a man writing there \yho called himself Mr Myer, and he said that he was an auditor. He said that they had been watching her, and that she had been short-ringing the register and keeping the money. 'She protested. , v', “He tried to . half-Hypnotise me/’ sa/d fitness. “He, kept his face close as - he could to me. He kept on. saying that he would give me two more minutes, and that he could not waste his time on me.” The room, she *aid, was unlighted, and, when they finally went downstairs, she was a nervous wreck. It was at flyer’s suggestion that she had filled in the £lB 15s, aiid all the, other details. ._ ; - '■ Mrs Ellen Lamb, with whom plaintiff lived, said that she was perfectly trustful and honest. On the day of tlie interview, she had come-home at 7.35 p.m. When witness arrived, the girl was leaning against the door, and'she could .scarcely stand. She was shaking, and could .not speak. ’ ;

’ Stanley Lamb, vuloaniser, -to whom plaintiff is engaged,. said that he had interviewed Guscott, manager of. ' McKenzie’s, who had admitted that Mlm Adiimi 'hud broa confronted by tbe psrsoivs maKing charge* agalnct her. He had also interviewed th© DetectiveAuditor, who told him that- if ' Mis* ,Adam« would pay the money, no more would b® heard about • it. If not, he said, the matterwould be put into the hands-of the police. . ■ • . Counsel for the Company applied'for judgment, or alternatively, a 1 non suit.

After hearing counsel, the Magistrate said that he would like to hear th© whole of the evidence.

The case, was ad’ourned until Friday