AGENT CHARGED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1030, 22 July 1930, Page 10

AGENT CHARGED

ALLEGED FAILURE TO ACCOUNT FOR MONEY VACUUM CLEANER PAYMENTS On five charges of failing to account for sums of money totalling £3O, William James Norton, an agent, aged '.O, appeared at the Police Court today. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and elected to be tried by jury on two counts of failing to account for sums of £2l and £6. On two charges of failing to account for £1 received from Florence Ellen .Mason, on behalf of the Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Company, evidence was heard before Mr. F. K. Hunt. S.M. Accused was represented by Mr. R. P. Smyth. Florence Ellen Mason, of the Point Chevalier Tearooms, said that on December 17. 1927. she had purchased a vacuum cleaner from the Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Company. Queen Street, on a hire-purchase agreement. On June 13, 1929, she paid Norton an instalment of £1 and a further instalment of the same amount during January of the present year. The receipt for the latter amount was written on a personal card of Norton’s, on her own suggestion, as he did not have an interim receipt book. She had not received official receipts from the office later, as was the usual practice, for either amounts. In March of this year, Norton came out to board at her place, paying £3 a week. He asked her for further instalments on the cleaner, but she did not give him any as she did not have the money to spare. The machine was priced at £2l and according to her receipts she owed only £1 on it. She had received receipts on the backs of visiting cards from other salesmen of the same company.

Alice Walker, a senior clerk of the Vacuum Cleaning Company, said that Norton was manager of the firm when she was engaged 15 months ago. Each salesman was supposed to put in his receipt book and cash each day when she would issue official receipts. The company’s books did not show that Norton had paid in either of the £1 instalments and there was a debit of £3 10s against Mrs. Mason. She! knew Norton was financially enbar- j lassed and had loaned him £35 when he was working for the company. That was at the end of April last year, j A typiste who gave evidence said she had relieved Miss Walker during! her absence on holidays. Mr. Norton had told her to be lenient on Mrs. Mason during the winter mouths. Kathleen Dawson, who replaced the previous witnes, said that Norton had not paid the £2 to her. On two separate occasions, she had advanced £1 from the cash to Norton, who had given her an 1.0. U. on each occasion. Ha had told her not to tell Miss Walker, but, Miss Walker had later found the unredeemed 1.0.U.’s in the cash-box. Mr. Hunt: There is so much detail about this case that I’m beginning to think there’s a good deal in it. ’’Norton collected probably hundreds of pounds, but T do not know about thousands.” Wright replied, in answer to counsel. Detective. E. C. Jarrold, of Wellington, gave evidence of his arrest of Norton in Tinakori Road. Wellington. Norton was told fhat he was charged with failing to account for a certain sum of money to his firm. Witness was told by Norton that &t\ the money lie had collected had been paid to the office. He had collected so much money that it was almost impossible for him to remember any particular instance. When he paid accounts to the cashier, lie produced copies of the receipts issued at collection. This concluded the case, aud Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., remarking that there was no prevarication or falsifying in this case, which differed from others, paid he would dismiss the charges. Where there was doubt, the accused would be entitled to the benefit of it. It had been contended that the sum had not. been paid in, and accused said he had done so. Norton was remanded on other Similar charges, bail being renewed.