COMMITTED FOR SENTE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 12, 15 January 1915, Page 5

COMMITTED FOR SENTE

MARLOW PLEADS GUILTY TWO CHARGES OF EMBEZZM MENT. ■ At the Stratford Magistrate’s this morning, Frederick Maurice low was charged with receiving sum of £sl 9s 4d from Robert Htß Cameron, in terms requiring account for same to the Cleik Court, and failing to account H The accused was not represen^B by counsel. H Senior-Sergeant McNeely the prosecution. ■ William Jesse Peeve, Clerk of B Court at Stratford, said that the t cused was appointed badiff at t Magistrate’s Court, Stratford, on . June, 1910. It was accused’s du oo serve summonses and execute ws rants, and he had to account f money collected under distress ws rants to the Clerk of Court, at fetrs r'ord. On 11th August, 1913, wi \ess received a distress warrant fro Marton Court for process. _ The wa rant was issued at the instance i Brice, Broad and Co., and the amom due on it was £sl 9s 4d. The wa rant was handed to accused on lit August, 1913 to execute. It wi the accused’s duty to either yetur the warrant with money, or markc “nullo bono” to the Clerk of Cour The accused did neither. On th 25th September, 1913, the followin note was left on witness’ office table “Mr Reeve, —Have gone to the Hour tain quarry. The two warrants ar settled. It mav he late in the aftei noon when I get hack. It is a lonj way. (Signed) F. Marlow.” The ac cused in this memo, referred to war rants in the cases of Brice. Broa( and Co. V. Cameron and Brooking, am another, issued by Collier and Co. v J. F. Bevins. Witness had accused since till 13th January, 1915 when lie appeared at the Court unde] arrest on the present charge. Witness had examined - the accused s official affairs after his disappearance The total amount of his defalcations up to present were £72 odd, including the amount of present charge. Robert Hugh Cameron, contractor, residing at Stratford, and partner in the late firm of Cameron and Brooking, said judgment was obtained in the’Marton Court by Brice, Broad and Co. for £sl 9s 4d. The accused call'd on him and told him that he had warrant for £sl 9s 4d to execute gainst the firm. The amount was ,iot paid at the time, but witness promised to pay him on a certain date. H e saw the accused at the Courthouse in the date promised, and paid him the sum of £sl 9s 4d by cheque ''cheque produced and identified by witness). The cheque was dated 30th.* August, 1913*- and was pn the National Bank of New Zealand, Stratford, drawn in favor of Messrs Broad, Brice, or Bearer. ■ The cheque was for the full amount, and was drawn by witness. The accused did not give witness a receipt at the time, but'one was received later on by post. (Receipt produced.) William Francis Clouston, teller at the National Bank of New Zealand at Stratford, said the cheque already produced and referred to by the previous witness was cashed at the tional Bank of New Zealand at Stratford on 30th August, 1913, witness paying out on the cheque himself. To the best of his knowledge the cheque was presented by Marlow. This concluded the case for the proi sedition. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed for sentence to the Supremo Court at Wellington. A SECOND CHARGE. Marlow was also charged with having received the sum of £l2 14s 8d from Mrs Julia Fitchett Bevins, in terms requiring him to account for .same to the Clerk of the Court, Stratford, and with failing to do . so.

William Jesse Reeve said on 2Gth July, 1913, witness as clerk of the Court received a distress warrant from the New Plymouth Court for execution on Mrs Julia Fitchett Bevins. The warrant was issued at the instance if H. Collier and Co., of Xew Plymouth, the amount due being £l3 14s Bd. Witness handed the warrant to accused on 26th July, 1913. Accused had never accounted to the Clerk of the Court for warrant or money on it.

Julia Fitchett Bevins said that Collier and Co., New Plymouth, obtained judgment against her for £l2 14s Sd, and she was aware that a. distress warrant for recovery of the money had been issued. The amount, £l2 14s Sd, was paid by Newton King for witness.

Louis Riera, chief clerk at Newton King’s, Stratford, said accused approached witness for the money duo by Mrs Bevins under distress warrant on behalf of Collier and Co., and he paid accused by cheque. (Cheque produced and identified by witness, date 26.7-13, being drawn on the Bank of New Zealand, Stratford and payable to No. 1665 or bearer, and signed by witness on behalf of the firm). Witness had received acknowledgment of the cheque (receipt produced). Francis Divens Oxley, teller in the Bank of New Zealand, Stratford, said that the cheque produced was according to the Bank’s books cashed on 2(3tlx July, 1913. . Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed for sentence to the Supreme Court at Wellington.