HUGE DEFALCATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 140, 6 November 1914, Page 8

HUGE DEFALCATIONS.

I OVER £12,000. ; I AN ERRING RECEIVER OF . ■ REVENUE. (

Bj Telegraph.—Par Preaa As*»«iation, Christchurch, Laat Night. At the Magistrate's Court this afternoon, Andrew Costello appeared to answer six charges of having misappropriated various sums of money, the (property of the New Zealand Government. Augustus Webber Eames, Government auditor for Canterbury, deposed that he examined the books of defendant. The names and amounts in the receipts pro-" cluccd in court had not been accounted for by accused. So far aa he could set misappropriations did not extend further back than September, 1911. The average yearly revenue of the department in .Canterbury would be roughly £50,000. The total amount in lists not • accounted for was £12,679 12s. Accused, had helpedconsiderably in compi'ing Uie lists, which would be very valuable to the auditor who had to go through the , accounts of roughly 5000 tenants. Detective Regan gave cvid.wu regarding the arrest of accused on October 18th. Costello had made a s.atement in'which he had admitted taking money totalling i1'0,755 8s 3d. He had also admitted that misappropriation had extended ..over eight y.ears, and the amounts specied in the lists represented the last instalments of rents duo. Also that a cheque had been paid and defalcations made out of cash. Accused pleaded guilty, and was coin- ; j Kitted to the Supreme Court for sen- j | tcnee. Bail was allowed as before. j