OFFICIALS CHARGED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 413, 23 December 1932, Page 5

OFFICIALS CHARGED

(Press. Assn.—

THEFT OF BIG SUM SYSTEMATIC PECULATIONS REVEALED IN CASE ACCUSED PLEAD GUILTY

-By Telegraph— Copyright).

Christchurch, Thursday. Two employees of the Alliance Insurance Company, Limited^ Were charged to-day with the theft of nearly £11,500, the property of the company. The accused were Clarence Alfred Palmer (30) and Walter Vernon Wiseman (33). The police stated the men had been in the eniploy of the company for 15 years. Palmer was cashier and Wiseman chief clerk. The thefts began in 1924 in a systematie fashion, accused allegedly taking as much as £2554 in one year. The- police said the system the men worlced on was that when the monthly returns were made Palmer deduei^d the amount of tho defalcations from the total and entered the rcsulting figure. They kept a caref.ul & check on their thefts. In 1924 they bsgan with £3 19s and rose to £2554 in 1931, and in 1932, till October 31, £1907.

The total sum mvolved as snown by an audit was £11,431. Accused admitted stealing the money. Herbert Thomas Francis, manager of the Christchurch branch of the firm, gave evidence that for some time past the premium income had fallen away. Until October last he had no idea of the reason. At that time he gave notice to those clients whose premiums were shown as overdue, Usually these notices went from Wiseman, but in October somn went out without passing through his hands. Cne of the clients wrote in, and inquiries were made, and accused adb mitted the thefts., The money had baen spent in payrng instalments on houses, buying motor-cars and furniture, and in living expenses. Accused, who pleaded guilty, were committed for sentence to the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed.