Nothing Foolish

NZ Truth, Issue 1196, 1 November 1928, Page 8

Nothing Foolish

i . - - ; ■ _|. my son nor Miss Brown have touched one farthing of it. As for the old man (Rust) his honor is absolutely above suspicion." : • A further investigation by Thompson, Grey and Rodgers, disclosed a deficiency of £1490/16/8, but no money, was paid m on. account of this m response to' dema*nds from the directors. When he was told that m all probability he would be taken to^ court, Webster said: "I am not go-' ing to commit suicide or do anything foolish like that, but if I go to gaol, I shall go as an innocent man." , Thompson, a partner m the Auckland firm of auditors practising under the title of Thompson, Grey and Rodgers, declared that the books were very badly kept and that m the receipts casli-bobk many of the entries were-in pencil! .. ....:■ Donald Webster, a somewhat dashing youth of twenty, and a son of the. accused, said he left school three years ago and went to work m his father's 'offlce. His father had instructed him m his work until the advent of Rust, when the latter. gave him certain advice concerning office procedure and the way m which it would be advisable to run the business of the building society. Although Webster senior had the key of the safe, it was available to Rust wheneverherequired.it. Webster then related- at some length the customary routine of the office, up to the time when first he heard of the alleged deficiency. He said there had not previously been any complaints of theft from the office, nor did either he or Miss Brown know anything- of the money declared to be missing. . - Rust was not able to appear to give evidence, his counsel submitting a medical certificate to the effect that he was very ill, and m a state of acute nervous depression and general breakdown. It is fairly certain that by the time -Webster faces a jury m Auckr land, the true position will be. unfolded, particularly as to whether the accused knows where all this money has gone — and who took it.