CIVIL SERVANT’S LAPSE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2593, 14 June 1923, Page 3

CIVIL SERVANT’S LAPSE.

DEFALCATIONS AT FOXTON

“NEEDED THE MONEY.” A railway employee named James Ledie McKay (unrepresented) pleaded guilty before Messrs W. F. Durward "and J. Ashcroft. J. sP. yesterday at the Palmerston North Court, to a charge of stealing between April 23 and May 15, sums of money aggregating £3 9/2, tlie property of the New Zealand Government. Detective-Sergeant Quirke conducted the case for tlie police. Herbert H. Hornblow, stationmaster, at Foxton, said the accused was a booking and goods clerk at Foxton for some time prior to May 16 of this year. The duties of the accused made it obligatory upon him to account for all moneys received. On May 15 witness made an examination of the delivery book, and found that three items had been altered in respect to the date and involving amounts totalling £1 9/6, and which was not included in the entry. Witness asked the accused for an explanation, and the latter admitted that the money had been paid to him. As he wae in need of the amount he altered the date of delivery in the delivery book from May 14 to May 16, as he intended to pay it back on the latter date. On May 16, in consequence of something told witness, the sum of £1 19/8 was mentioned and when witness questioned the accused about this the latter promised to pay it to the office. On May 18 witness further ascertained that a sum had been pipd and debited to another account, the owner of which lodged a complaint. When questioned, the accused said it had been a mistake and that he would settle the matter with the payee, but on May 22, witness discovered that this had not been done, although it was paid on May 25. Had not the second party noticed the matter, there would have been no record as far as the accused was concerned, McKay was suspended on May lb. Evidence was also given by De-tective-Sergeant (Quirke to the effect that he had interviewed the uccused at Foxton on June 8. McKay was quite frank about the matter and admitted that he had received sums of money and failed to account for them to the department. In a statement to witness the uccused admitted the defalcations, fie appeared on summons and had given the police every assistance in tlie matter. At tlie conclusion of the evidence the accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail on his own recognaisance in the sum of j£so was allowed. —ALil. Times.