CASHIER’S THEFTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3717, 15 November 1927, Page 4

CASHIER’S THEFTS.

TRUSTED BY EMPLOYERS. “BETTING IN DESPERATION.” WELLINGTON, Nov. 10. Harry Stephen Liversage, aged 35, who pleaded guilty yesterday to a charge of having stolen £4804 Os Id from Joseph Nathan and Co., joined the firm when he was a boy, and except in two and a half years, during which he was on war service, had been with it over since. John C. Port, secretary of the company, said that at the time of his discharge, a fortnight ago, Liversage was receiving a salary of £35 a month, as cashier. The financial year of the Wellington branch of the firm ended on August 31, and on October 28, Mr R. Davis, accountant, of Palmerston North, made an audit of the books. As the result of this examination witness questioned Liversage on November 1, and asked him why Aulsebrook and Company’s cheque for £SOO had been paid into the bank the day before it was entered in the cash book. Liversage then said he would like to have an interview with witness privately, as his cash was considerably short. Witness told him to report himself to the chair-, man of directors, Mr Frederick Nathan, that afternoon. On November 2nd and 3rd Liversage wrote up the cash book, entering amounts he had previously paid into the bank. Liversage had practically uncontrolled charge of the cash books, and about £50,000 or more in cheques went through each month. The firm had had great confidence in Liversage, and, apart from the present charges, he had been quite trustworthy. He was of sober habits, a very careful and willing worker, and bore a good character. His offences were of a nature bound, to be found out sooner or later. Mr R. Davis said that it was apparently accused’s system to bank cheques when he received them and not enter them in the cash book until some days later, so that prior to the entries the bank balance and the cash book would agree. Witness produced a detailed list of defalcations. There were, he said, no forgeries or false entries, only wrong dates were given. Liversage had kept the books in a satisfactory way, and when his defalcations were discovered gave every assistance in clearing up the matter. STATEMENT BY ACCUSED. Detective-Sergeant Holmes stated in evidence that accused made a statement to the effect that about seven years ago two sums of money, £225 and £245, disappeared between the time they were received at the office and the time when they should have been deposited at the bank. Fearing that if the firm were told of this he would be dismissed, lie (Liversage) when the monthly balance was to be made held cheques to cover these amounts. In other words, lie omitted to enter cheques to this value in the cash book. From that time on, lie converted to his own use sums of money belonging to the firm, keeping no record of them. “When I started to bet,” he said, “it was with the intention of making sufficient to square off the deficiencies. I started betting in sheer desperation, to try and save my position with the firm, as 1 could see no other way of svaing it. I seriously regret what I have done. For some considerable time the worry I have had has been terrible. 1 recognise that I should, in the first instance, have reported the loss of the money and risked dismissal."