HUGE THEFTS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1932, Page 6

HUGE THEFTS

BY INSURANCE OFFICER'S,

(Per Press Asa>n.iuOi‘in — (Jopimykt.)

CHRISTCHURCH. Dec. 22

Two employees of the Alliance In niiu'iKv-i Company, Limited, wore charged to-day with the theft of nearly £11,500, tire property of the Company They were Clarence Alfred Palmer, aged 30, and Walter Vernon Wiseman Tito police stated that the men had been in the employ of the Company for fifteen years. Palmer was cashier, and 'Wiseman chief clerk. The. thefts be gan in .1924 in systematic fashion, no •cased taking ao much as £2554 in on<year alone. The police said that the system the men had worked on was that, when the monthly returns were made, Palmer deducted the amount of the defalcations from the total, and entered the resulting figure. They kept a careful check on their thefts, in 1924 they began with £3 19s, and rose to £2554 in 1931, and £1907 in 1932, till, by October, 31. the total sum involved, as shown by the audit, was £1.1,431. Accused admitted stealing the money. Herbert Thomas Francis, manager of the Christchurch branch of tho firm, gave evidence that, for some tune past, thm premium income had fallen away. Until last October he had iu> idea of the reason. At that time lie gave notice to clients whose premiums were §hown to he overdue. Usuallv these notices went from 'Wiseman, but in October some went out without passing through liirs hands. One of the orients wrote in and inquiries were then made and accused' admitted the thefts. The money was spent in paying instalments on houses, buying motor cans and furniture and in living expenses. Accused pleaded guilty and were committed for sentence. Bail was allowed.