Second Edition. A FRAUDULENT SOLICITOR

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 94, 20 December 1913, Page 6

Second Edition. A FRAUDULENT SOLICITOR

THEFT OF Ten thousand

POUNDS.

SURRENDERS TO THE POLICE.

[Peb Press Association.]

Palmerston X., December 20

Oliver Xoel Gillespie, of Feilding, solicitor, appeared before Magistrate Poynton this morning on eight different charges of having received sums and fraudulently failed to account lor same, thereby cdmuiittiny theft, the total involved being £lo,loo IBs 10d. Mr H. 11. Cooper appeared for accused, and Sub-Inspector Marsack repiesented the police. The amounts involved were : £I7OO, trustees of the estate of James Vile; £2/0, Samuel C. Andrews; £-100, Edward Smith; £ll7O 17s,' Charles D. Snow; £lO9l Is 10d, Frank Jarrv ; £IOOO, John M. A s Court; £2-500, George Dear; £BOO, James Ryan. The whole of the charges were taken on one set of depositions.

Outlining the'j case, Sub-lnspectoi Marsack stated that accused, being a partner in the firm of Prior and Gillespie, solicitors, Feilding, received moneys either for investment or for distribution to beneficiaries in the estate concerned. He stated that after accused went away to Sydney he wrote sating that he intended coming back to give himself up. A couple of days ago he called at the police station, when statements were read over to him, which would be put in. William James Vile, farmer, Apiti, gave evidence that he was a trustee in the estate of the late James Vile. The estate was- placed in the hands of Prior and Gillespie. Property was sold and the proceeds were left in the hands of the firm. When the estate was ifbund up the money was to come to the beneficiaries. Witness called on accused many times and ascertained that certain legacies- had been paid, but £I7OO, portion of the estate, was not accounted for. About August 16th, witness called on accused and asked the cause of the delay. Gillespie said certain matters had been referred to a Wellington solicitor, lie had not yet received the costs back. On September 22nd, witness and Ids solicitor went to accused’s offiOe, and found that he had disapepared. The case is proceeding.