SURRENDERED TO POLICE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 715, 15 July 1929, Page 1

SURRENDERED TO POLICE

EX-SOLICITOR ADMITS THEFT OF £650

CONFESSION OF MISAPPROPRIATIONS

PLEADING guilty at the Police Court this morning on nine charges of theft, Raymond Bradford Purser, an ex-soli-citor, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Purser gave himself up to the police on July 5, when he admitted the misappropriation of more than £650.

Purser, whose age was given as 28, »as represented by Mr. E. H. Northtroft. Ten charges were laid relating to transactions between accused and navid Rodd between August 1, 1928, and April 30 of this year. After the hearing of evidence, Mr. Nqrthcroft said that Purser was not prepared to admit one charge of failing to account for £25 and that charge was withdrawn by Chief-Detective HamlU David Ross described himself as a retired farmer living at Bellwood Avenue, Mount Eden. Accused had acted for him in certain property deals conducted in 1828 and the beginning of [929. Last year witness had bought two "sections in Disraeli Street and liarry Street, Mount Eden. On one section stood an old house and witness had paid £2OO of the £1,200 tor the property in cash. The balance was made up in a mortgage which included a clause giving w-itness the right of release of the section on the payment of £3OO. He later sold the section to a Mrs. Alexander tor £450 and paid £215 9s 9d to accused to release the mortgage on the vacant section. Of that sum £2OO was to be added to the £IOO paid by Mrs. Uexander out of her deposit, the balance being payable to witness as interest.

Ross detailed the circumstances relating to further dealings he had had through accused and estimated the amount the man had handled for him at about £704. Cross-examined by Mr. Northcroft, witness said that he could not remember receiving a cheque for £25 an October 15. Evidence was given by David Leonard Bone, a member of a firm of

solicitors who had acted for Mrs. Alexander, regarding payments made to Purser on behalf of Ross. July 5 was the date given by Detective Sneddon as the day when Purser came to the detective office and gave himself up, making his first statement. Six days later, he had made a second and more detailed statement. Purser’s statement was to the effect that he had been a solicitor practising in the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Buildings. He admitted receiving £BBS from Ross and on his behalf. Of this sum he had paid out £l3O and repaid £IOO to his client. He had misappropriated the balance and estimated the shortage at £650. “In consequence of certain transactions not being completed owing to the money not being available when required the loss to Ross is probably in excess of the sum mentioned,” the statement concluded. The second statement, made on July 11, detailed the various transactions in which accused had been engaged on Ross’s behalf. Entering his plea of guilty, Mr. Northcroft said that, in regard to the charge relating to £25, Purser had received it on October 13 but had posted a cheque to Ross on October 15. This charge was withdrawn. There was a further amount of £l2 10s 6d in dispute, but counsel did not press the question, although he thought it only fair to be accurate. Counsel also stressed the fact that Purser had given himself up before knowledge of the case had come to the hearing of the police at all. Bail was allowed in one surety of £I,OOO.