THE HARDEN CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 432, 3 September 1908, Page 3

THE HARDEN CASE.

At the Palmerston S.M. Court on Monday, C. E. Harden, solicitor, was charged with fraudulently omitting to account for or pay ,£250 to Margaret J. N. Hancock, The prosecutor, Mr W. H. Hancock, said he did not intend to proceed with the prosecution, as the money had been'paid. Mr Cooke, counsel lor the accused, said the money had been paid in this morning unconditionally, and he supposed the case would not be proceeded with. Mr Thomson, S.M., pointed out that the payment of the money did not uecessaiily end the case, and he added that another information had been laid by the police. Mr Cooke said he had had no information on that matter till a few minutes before, and he would ask for a remand. Sub-Inspector O’Donovan submitted that there was a prima facie case to answer. The S.M. said the police had adopted the proper course, and as the charges were substantially the same a remand could only be granted till 2 o’ckck, which was done. Mr Cooke at 2 o’clock asked for further remand, on behalf of the accused, on the ground that hewas physically unfit for the ordeal. Mr Thomson refused a further remand. Mr Cooke withdrew from the case, on the ground that it was impossible to do it justice under the circumstances. Dr. O’Brien gave evidence that, though the accused was in a state of collapse in the morning, his condition had now sufficiently improved to allow the case to go on. A large amount of evidence was taken. Hughes, accountant at the Bank of Australasia, produced entries showing that only £1 4s xod was in the trust account prior to paying in the .£250, and a cheque for ,£IOO was drawn against that and several other debit entries were also shown. The credit balance of the account on July 30th last, when transactions ceased, was 14s. The accused was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, and, while reserving bis defence, made a lengthy statement in which he stated that his books and affairs had not been looked after owing to illness and continual absence from town. “It was a considerable shock,” he said, “ when I went to the bank and discovered my position.” He also laid stress on the fact that he had made no attempt to shirk his responsibility.