PREPARING FOR AUDIT-DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2218, 27 April 1880, Page 2

PREPARING FOR AUDIT-DAY.

TOWN EDITION.

Additional particulars concerning the attempt to burn down the corporation buildings at Napier yesterday morning, point in the direction of the clerk as the perpetrator. On the door of the office being opened it was found that about a gallon of kerosene had been poured over the lloor, table, and books kept by the clerk, named Shaw. Empty bottles, which had contained kerosene, were stacked in the corner, and the cocoanut matting in the public room, as well as in the Mayor’s office, was well soaked with oil. The police set to work to make enquiries, and found that it was the annual audit day, and the fact that a number of rate books and counter foils had been pulled down from a shelf, and after the oil had been poured over them, ranged round Shaw’s books in open order so that they would readily burn, directed suspicion to him. He was in the office and was most active in suggesting theories to account for the tire, pointing out footmarks on a (able below a window which nobody else could see. At last he seemed to become conscious that suspicion pointed to him, and at once he went to the Mayor and confessed that lie had embezzled money belonging to the Corporation, and that he bad falsified books to hide bis defalcations, but he denied having set the place on lire. The police have since discovered that Shaw purchased the kerosene on Saturday. !Shaw is well connected, and has hitherto borne a good name. He was at one time a runholder in the country, but for several years past has been in the employ of the Coiporation. About six months ago he was appointed rate collector, and it is supposed that the defalcations have occurred since then, He states that he has no idea how much he has embezzled, and it will take several days for the auditors to Jind it out, though several specific embezzlements have already been discovered. {Shaw has a wife and large family, and much sympathy is expressed for them. He has never lived in a. fast manner, and nothing occurred to rouse suspicion before the lire. The general belief is (hat he got gradually into debt and, on being pressed by tradesmen, took this money from the rates and then altered the books to correspond with the amount he paid in. His salary was over £2UO a year, [I3V TELEGRAPH.] Naxukk, 27. William Henry Shaw, late rate-re-ceiver, was charged at the Resident Magistrates Court with sotting tire to the Government jjuihlings yesterday, and remanded for eight days.