FAILED TO ACCOUNT FOR MONEY PAID HIM

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 66, 9 June 1927, Page 13

FAILED TO ACCOUNT FOR MONEY PAID HIM

£2l INVOLVED TRAVELLER CHARGED Whatever else Frank John O’Neil may have done, he has certainly not neglected his family re- | sponsibilities. 'IIT'HEN he appeared in the Police ’' Court this morning to answer three charges o£ failing to account for money totalling £2l, Chief-Detective Cummiug told the court that O’Neil, who is a returned soldier aged 34, had been earning £5 a week as a traveller, and out of that had given £4 to his wife and three children, and the remaining £ 1 to his mother. The accused had been travelling for Kretchmar, Ltd., in Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa districts and received £95 from his firm in 3G days for expenses. Mr. R. A. Singer put up a strongplea for leniency. O’Neil had had an excellent record of war service, he said, and had suffered considerably in consequence. “He was receiving a permanent war pension, and the hard-headed, and sometimes hard-hearted, Pen.sions Department does not allow" these pensions unless they are deserved,” said counsel. It had been decided to plead guilty to save expense. One amount, £9 6s 9d, which he had collected was paid to him by cheque, Mr. Singer explained. He cashed the cheque and wired his firm asking whether he should forward the money, or retain it for his expenses. Ten days later he received > instructions to send it on, but unfortunately omitted to do so. The second amount of £2 10s he had forgotten about, as he omitted to take a note of it. A Hastings hotel at which he stayed owed Kretchmars £9 3s lOd. and he had arranged to have that amount deducted from his board. This transaction also slipped his memory as no money actually passed. Mr. Singer suggested in view of the fact that a black mark against his character might affect his pension, that the charge might be dismissed under section 92 of the J.P. Act, on condition that O’Neil made restitution. Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., remanded the accused till to-morrow morning for sentence —releasing him on his promise to appear—to see his pension medical report.