ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 6, Issue 337, 7 March 1884, Page 2

ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT.

: * , " ; '" " At Qeraldine on Tuesday Joseph Mackay, who had previously been committed for trial on a charge of embezzlement, was further charged with misappropriating three sutns of LI 6s 6d f L 2 2s 4d, arid LI 12s, the property of the Government Insurance Department. As the evidence would be the 1 same as in the first case except as to atnounta and persons from whom' obtained, it was agreed at the eloseof the first case to abbreviate the examinations-in-chief and not to crossexanvne. To this accused consented, and Mj Perry, who had conducted the defence, did not go to Geraldine, leaving Dr Foster, who resides there, to watch tlie ca«e. Th prosecution was therefore surprised to find, that accused had shunted Dr Foster and was going to defend the case himself. Mr Luckie, the Commissioner, gave evidence as in the first case and was then cross-examined for four hours by the* adcused. The greater part of the time was wasted in questions on irrelevant subjects. Mr Thome, Superintendent of Agents, one of the principal witnesses in the first case, was toot "called, it being forseen that his .cross-examination would be interminable, When the case was closed without Mr Thorna's evidence, accused was taken quite aback, as he wished to crossexamine him as part of the defeace. No subpoena had been issued to > Mr £home, and he being told he would not be wanted, had gone away for a stroll, and was ! not to be found. On being charged acGusad 'commented in his address to the Court very deliberately on irrelevant matters : talking against time till Mr Thome could he found. He was peremptorily ordered to confine ' himself to tlie evidence, but would not do so, and was then;!:. r.= ordered to stop. The Court sat eiimiiuuimsly from ten till half-past five, and the depositions, not a fourth of; which are relevant, fill sorn,e. five and twenty pages of foolscap. i\.cqi4^d- biy his maim'ei' irritated everyone engaged \n. the cage, and the Magistrate several times threatened to, 'commit him for contempt. Accused, with a martyrlike air, begged him not to hesitate about doing it, but consideration for the convenience of others saved him frota incarcer-, ation. Mackay was committee! for trial ; ' bail being allowed on the same terms a^ befqre—himself iv. L}oo, and $wo [sureties, in LSO eucl}_ -.