CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEMENT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 247, 13 February 1875, Page 3

CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEMENT.

The arrest of Mr. F. C. Leggett, clerk of the Provincial Council, caused much regret to those who knew him. The charge preferred against him is the embezzlement of £BO, money belonging to the Provincial Government. The facts of the case appear to be as follows : — On the 24th December, 1873. Mr, Leggett received from the Provincial Treasurer, a cheque for £BO, for the purpose of obtaining a draft on the Bank of New Zealand, to remit to Messrs Ridgeway and Sons, London, in payment for some books which had been ordered for the Provincial Council Library. Months passed on, and the Speaker, Mr. G. M. O’Rorke, enquired of Mr. Leggett if Messrs Ridgeway and Sons had acknowledged the draft, but failed to obtain any satisfactory information on the point. As the books which had been ordered did not arrive, a letter was at length written to the Messrs Ridgeway and Sons, asking why the order had not been executed, and why they had not acknowledged the receipt of the draft. A letter was received by the last mail, stating that the draft had not been received. On enquiry at the Bank of New Zealand, it was found that the cheque given by the Provincial Treasurer bad been cashed, but that no draft had been purchased. It is stated that Mr. Leggett confessed his guilt, on the matter being referred to him. He then walked to the police . station, in the company of Mr. O’Rorke and Mr. Tonks, and there gave himself in charge. For the last four years Mr. Leggett has filled the post of clerk to the Provincial Council with credit, and has invariably won the respect and good wishes of those he came in contact with by his courteous and obliging disposition. Much sympathy is felt for him by those who best know the circumstances in which he was placed. —Weekly News.