MISAPPROPRIATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 60, 6 November 1914, Page 4

MISAPPROPRIATION.

[Pm* Pun Association 1 Christchurch, November 5. I v'

At the Magistrate’s Court this afternoon, Andrew Costello appeared to answer six charges of having misappropriated various sums of money, the property of the New Zealand Government. 1 ■.

Augustus Webber Eames, Government auditor for Canterbury, -deposed that he examined the books of defendant. The names and amounts in the receipts produced in court had not been accounted for by accused. So far as he could see, misappropriations did not extend further back than September, 1911. The average yearly revenue of the department in Canterbury would be roughly £50,000. Tne to'tal amount in lists not accounted for was £12,679 12s. Accused had helped considerably in compiling the lists, which would be very valuable to the auditor who had to go through the accounts of roughly 5000 tenants. Detective Regan gave evidence regarding the arrest of accused cn October, 19th. Costello had . made a staierm in in which he had admitted taking money totalling £10,755 8s «M. He had also admitted that misappropriation had extended over eight years, and the amounts specified in the lists represented the last instalments of rents due. Also that a cheque had been paid and defalcations made out of cash.

Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed as before.