DISHONEST AGENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 26, 20 June 1914, Page 6

DISHONEST AGENT.

I A YOUNG .MAN'S LAPSE. Samuel Joseph Beaven, who was arrested at Hawera last week on a charge ' of embezzlement, appeared on remand in the Magistrate's- Court, New Plymouth, yesterday, before Mr A. Crooke, S.M. Senior-Sergt. Haudrcll prosecuted. There, were four informations comprising sums at Inglewood and VVaihi, totalling £M, the property of the Singer Sewing Machine Co. at Palmerston North. Accused pleaded guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily. Sergeant Haddrell stated that accused, who was employed by the company as agent with power to sell sewing ma- } chines on time payment or for cash, I with the understanding tlrat he should render weekly accounts of the machines j sold and moneys received, had taken ' cash for sales and failed to hand it over to his employers, falsifying his accounts .so as to escape detection for a little , while. There were sums missing other than those mentioned in the information, but the company had no wish to be hard, on him. His friends were willing to enter into a bond for payment of the j moneys if he were admitted to proha- { tion. I ■Mr Crooke: Are there any previous i convictions against him? i Sergeant Haddrell: No, but he was J .once entrusted with a letter containing I .'money to post. The letter did not reach its restination, and accused subsequently said lie had accidentally upset j it, and lost the money. Ue seems to have been rather careless with his oh- > ligations. ! Mr. Crooke: Is there any reason for | this lapse? Had he a sufficient salary? j LScrgt. Haddrell: He had a salary and j commission and his expenses paid. On j his own showing he has never drawn less 1 than £2 3s per week exclusive of ex- j penses. i.Mr. Crooke: It would he a pity to i send him to prison. 1 Sergt. Haddrell: Yes. His people are | highly respectable, and lie has a wife and three children. Accused was remanded for the report of the probation officer at Inglewood until Wednesday next. Bail was allowed on his own surety of £IOO, and another o! • £IOO. ' ■ !