AUCTIONEER CHARGED.

Shannon News, 28 March 1924, Page 3

AUCTIONEER CHARGED.

SALE PROCEEDS NOT PAID OVER.

ACCUSED PLEADS GUILTY

At the Police Court at Palmerston belore Messrs C. T-l. Whitehead and W. McKenzie, J’AP., Henry Augustus Scott, of Shannon, auctioneer, was charged that, between May 7, 1923, and December 31, 1923, at shannon, lie did fraudulently convert to his ora use tlte sum of £ls, the balance oi proceeds of fruit, the property of FI. G. Apsey and Co., of Hastings, sold by auction by accused. 'Detective Sergeant Quirke appeared for the police, accused not being repre

seated by counsel. The first witness was Herbert George Apsey, of fruit merchant, whOi stated that, in March, April and May, 1923, he sent a quantity of fruit to accused at Shannon for disposal. ■ Witness had drawn the attention of accused to the fact that he had not remitted the saleable value of the produce—£?3 11s 9d, and accused had promised to get his assistant, to straighten out his accounts and forward a statement, but no money had been forthcoming. ' Accused said that he had had a severe illness and had been unable to look after his accounts properly. John Thomas Boris, town clerk, Shannon, produced the list of auctioneers’ licenses issued by the Shannon Borough Council for 1923, stating that accused had applied . lor a three months’ license which was granted subject to being in ' conformity with the Act. The license was duly granted and extended to 12 months, accused being a duly lieensTed auctioneer j for the months of April, May and June of last year. The license expired on December 31, 1923. Detective Bussell stated in evidence

that, on January 28 last, he interviewed accused at Shannon in reference to the charge, explaining that Apsey and Company, who- had sent fruit |.o him ior auction, had not received tlie proceeds of its sale. Accused admitted receiving the fruit, kit said that a good deal of it had gone rotten and had' to be thrown out. Mr Apscy’s estimate of its value, lie said, had' been exorbitant. Accused said he had received about -£ 15 for the fruit, which sum he had not paid to Apsev and Co. Ffe admitted that lie had “no trust account—only his current account. Accused had then made a statement on this matter and signed it. Accused had rendered every assistance in this inquiry and had been quite frank in making the statement. . Accused, when asked if he desired to say anything, replied in the negative, pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington, for sentence. Bail was allowed in accused’s own recognisance of £SO and one surety of a like amount.