YOUNG MAN'S CRIME.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 11 March 1927, Page 5

YOUNG MAN'S CRIME.

Press Assoeiation.)

£610 TAKEN FROM POST OFFICE , . SAVINGS BANK.

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AUCKLAND, Last Night. A remarkable story of how a ledgerkeeper, previously employed in the Post Office Savings Bank at Dunedin, forged a depositor's signature to withdrawal slips and obtained the total sum of £610 without the authorities discovering his crime, was told at the Police Couii; this morning. William Ernest Carrington (26) unfolded the story. He was charged with forging the namc; of "M. M'Millan" to withdrawal slips for sums of £10 on August 17, 1926, £10 on August 9; 1926, £70 on June 26, and £510 on August 28 of J the same year. Francis George Eagles, account- 1 ant, said that accused was transferred to Greymouth on August 10, 1926, Miss Maisie M'Millan had her j account transferred from Welling- j ton to Dunedin on November 27, 1919, and afterwards made several i deposits at Dunedin. These were ' credited tp her account, the total ; amount of credit plus interest be- 1 ing £619 ls 8d. The signatures "M. i M'Millan" on the withdrawal slips ;

produced resembled those of the depositor but there were _ certain i peculiarities that were not in agreement with ' the specimen signature of the depositor. Detective P. J. Nalder said accused was arrested at Auckland on February 13 last. He then informed the police that he had unlawfully withdrawri money from the depositor's account at Dunedin. Later witness interviewed accused when he made an explanation. Inquiries had been made throughout New Zealand for the depositor, Miss Maisie M'Millan, but she could not be traced. Carrington said that since 1921 the £70 which he took first was spent on drink and motor rid.es with bad women — common street prostitutes — and for purchas-, ing drugs. He had no assistance from anyone and knew that he. was doing wrong. After his transfer to Greymouth he remained there for twp days and then resigned with the £500 wfiich he withdrew from Miss M'Millan's account. On August 28 he went to Sydney by the Maheno. He returned to Auckland in December and went to s'tay at his uncle's farm at Mangere. He remained there until February 13, when he came to Auckland and called at the detective office giving himself up to the police. Worr'y, occasioned by what he had done, caused . him to take this step. Carrington added that he did not know Miss M'Millan. When he started to operate on her account, she had a credit of £619, but when he had finished all that was left was £9 ls 8d. Accused pleaded guilty to all the charges and was committed to the , Supreme Court for sentence.Vl i J3 ^