SERIOUS CHARGES

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1932, Page 6

SERIOUS CHARGES

AGAINST BUSINESS MAN. FORGERY OF VOUCHERS. (Per Press Association — Copyright.) WANGANUI, October 21. Jabey William Mace Luxford, a member of the Cfity Council and other local bodies, and a prominent business man; was charged that on or about the July 19, 1931, at Wanganui, he did make a false document by forging the name of Ross and Glendining to a Wanganui Technical College Board voucher, knowing same to be false, with the intention that it should be acted upon as genuine. That on 20/7/29 at Wanganui he made a false document by forging the name of Bronieley and Son Ltdj., Wanganui, to a Fire Board voucher, knowing same to be false with the intention that it should be acted upor, as genuine. That on 24/8/1926 he did commit forgery in that he did procure Gladys Robinson to make a false document, viz, to receipt a Wanganui Fire Board voucher in the name of Ross, Glendining and Co., knowing same to be false, with intention it should be acted upon as genuine.

Frederick Charles Atkinson, manager of the Wanganui branch of Ross nad Glendining, produced a Technical College Board voucher, accompanied by a cheque for £52/13/1. This was supported by 2 invoices on Ross and G'lendining’s stationery for £4O/10/and £l3/10/1. The cheque was drawn on the Bank of New Zealand in favour of Ross and Glendining, and was signed •by members of the Technical College Board. To the best of witness’ knowledge his firm did not supply the goods to board. His firm had no dealings with the Board at all. The voucher was receipted in the name of his firm per W.L. This voucher was not accepted by witness or any member of his staff. His firm did not receive the cheque. Witness never at any time had given stationery to the accused. ' Gladys Jones, clerk of Ross land Glendening, said the signatures to the vouchers were not hers, or any member of the staff. The firm, used a rubber stamp on receipts, and this did not appear on these vouchers. William John Kane, audit inspector, said during the last audit of technical college accounts, four vouchers came under his notice. He found four cheques had been credited at the Bank of New Zealand, to the account of accused’s firm. Thes e amounts were refunded to the College Board account, and the penalty in each instance paid l to the public account. Isaac Edward Newton, director of the Technical College Board, said accused was chairman of the Board from August, 1925, to August, 1931. There were two college hostels where supplies were required. The Board or mainly the Chairman, wins informed by witness that the goods on receipt would be checked and the invoice' initialled. He could not say the goods were delivered by Ross and Glendining. They were received by the Board. Witness did l not know who ordered them.

Miss M. Cummings, accountant at the Technical College, said th e accounts tame to her to be checked and init-ial.-led. After the accounts had been checked, the cheques were handed to her t° b e distributed. Accused asked her to post certain cheques to him, and make them payable to bearer. Atkinson recalled, said the lire Board voucher for payment of £29 5s to Ross and Glendining, was not received by Tbs firm. Payment of £1 L 3d was made to .a. clerk of his firm. Witness had been instructed from accused that certain payments would be made from the Fire Board to Ros.s and Glendining, and to credit these payments to his account. Witness detailed other payments of amounts up to £2B mad e in similar way. The firm had not supplied goods to the Board or issued invoices. The aggregate of these was approximately £l6O. None of the vouchers were prepared jn the same manner as his firm would. None of the goods were SU P‘ plied by bis firm,