Failing to Account.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 137, 14 June 1904, Page 4

Failing to Account.

j A XRW PLYMOUTH DEFAUI/rEU, At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, Ernest A. Hardy was charged before Mr T. W. Fisher, Justice, that he did on January 11, 1904, at New Plymouth, receive from Fred Goodacre the sum of £2 • 12s sd, but failed to account for the money to F. W. Richmond, attorney for A. E. Hardy, trading as Hardy and Co. A second charge was also preferred, of receiving from A. E. Laurent the sum of £6 19s and failing to account for same. In the absence of the Magistrate, who lind not returned from Opunake, tho case was adjourned until 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The accused elected to be dealt with summarily, and said as he had no papers to prove his innocence he would plead guilty. Mr Richmond appeared for the informants. He thought the ends of justice would be satisfied by the plea of guilty on the tir.sl churgv. The Magistrate wus not sure that he had jurisdiction in the second charge. Mr Richmond outlined the circumstances. The accused had been engaged as manager for Hardy and Co. on the illness of his brother, Albert E. Ilardy, the principal. As things were not going on too satisfactorily, accused had been asked to resign his managership, and he agreed to do so from December 31st. From information received. Mr Rich- j mond, attorney for the company, ■ had found it desirable to advertise J to the effect that the accused was no longer manager of the company and had no right to collect moneys. Notwithstanding this, he had collected this account, but had not accounted for it in any way, The accused said this was a correct. statement of the facls, though lie had no knowledge of the ,-ulvcr- | tisement mentioned. The Magistrate asked if this cluirge were one of a series. Mr Richmond said that was so, the total amounting to somewhere about £4O. In extenuation of the offence, he remarked that Hardy had been collecting moneys and spending too freely in drinking. lie did not think he knew the position of his accounts. 1 Accused : I don't think anyone knew. Mr Richmondlt could easily have been ascertained. The cesh book was correctly kept. I A sentence of two months' imprisonment with hard labour was