MISSING MONEY

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 229, 28 September 1926, Page 8

MISSING MONEY

FROM EQUITY COURT. OFFICIAL DISAPPEARS. . SYDNEY, Aug. 15. The mystorious disappearance of an officer of the Equity Court recently, and the discovery of shortages in accounts amounting to about £6900 have revealed one of the most remarkable ca-ses that the Sydney police have been called npon to investigate. An extraordinary featuire of the case is that the supposed embeizzlements have extended over a period of years, but it was not until a few months ago, following upon a olose scrutiny of the hooks, that they were deteeted. This showed that the accounts had been so cleverly manipulated that they had escaped the auditor's notice, and in this manner large sums of money were being continually taken. The missing moneys had been paid hy the 1 i tigants and others to the M'aster in Equity in the ordinary way. Not until May last were the shortages discovered. The Publie Service Board was notified, and as a result aii offieer was suspended, pending further investigations. OFFTCTAL DISAPPEARS. The next development was the sudden disappearance of the officer. On May 26 he left his liome, intimating that he was leaving Sydney for Melbourne. The servioes of the police were sought by the Crown Law Department, and about four weeks ago a warrant was issiied for the arrest of the missing offieial. Despite the vigilant search, the whereabouts of the officer have not yet been discovered. Every avenue of investigation lias heen explored, but without any evidenee of the missing man's movements. A warrant for the arrest of the man charges him with embezzling. whilst a publie servant, the sum of £520.