FRAUDS ON THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. THE DEFAULTING SYDNEY TELLER.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 426, 7 December 1889, Page 6

FRAUDS ON THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. THE DEFAULTING SYDNEY TELLER.

Tjikegonwell Augustus Wuitk Thoaias, aged 28, formerly a clei k in the Bank of New Zealand, appeared before Air Fisher, S. M., at the Water Police Court, on November 19th, charged with obtaining from Robert James Mackenzie, cheques to the amount of £7,000, by means ot a wilfully false pretence with intent to defraud.- He was further charged with embezzling certain chattels, monejs and valuable securities, to wit, C 13.782 6s, entrusted to him by tho Bank of New Zealand. Mr B. R. Wise, instructed by Messrs Want, Johnson and Co., appeared for the prosecution, and Mr T. M. flattery for the defence. On the application of Mr Slattery the two oases were remanded for a week. The accused waa then charged with falsifying accounts. T. F. Giblin, manager of the Sydney bianch of tho Bank of New Zealand, deposed that piisoner was formerly in the employ ot the bank. The lower initials on tho three depo&it receipts produced were those of Thomas, who signed as paying and receiving teller. The initials showed that prisoner had received these amounts indicated by the slips on behalf of the bank. The cheques mentioned in the deposit elipa had nob been found, although search had been made for them. The amounts they represented were severally £1,301 2b 6d,' £800 4s 5d and £446 sp. Robert James Mackenzie, a stock and sharebroker, deposed that the bodies of the slips produced were in Ins handwriting ; they were handed by him to Thomas, who he supposed represented a syndicate. Ho had never paid into the bank the cheques represented on the backs of the slips. Thoma°, it was understood, should cover the slips with cheques he held in trust. Robe. C. Mackenzie, son of tho previous witness, said that he had tilled in one of the slips, dated July 26th, before it was initialled. He handed it in to Thomas in the bank and saw him initial it. No cheque accompanied the slip. C. C. Broughton, exchange clerk in the Sydney branch of the Bank of New Zealand, deposed that it was his duty to enter in the exchanjje-book all cheques received from other banks. . He was on duty at the bank on July 29th and October Btlr. He never received cheques drawn by W. Thompson on the National Bank for £1,301 2p 6d and £800 4s 5d lesp'ectively, nor yet a cheque drawn by J. Stewart for £446 ss. All cheques were paid to him by Thomas. Frank M. Alderson, exchange c*,erk, corroborated the last witness' evidence. - Robert Chiles, ledger keeper at the Sydney branch of the Bank of New Zealand; said he kept the account of A. J. Mackenzie. On July 29th he credited the account with £446 ss, and on October Bth with the other two amounts specified. The pay slips were initialled by Thomas, which was suflicient authority for him. The cheques for those amounts did not pass through his hands. At this stage of the proceedings Mr Wise applied for a remand tor a week, which wag I granted.