A DEFAULTING BAILIFF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 187, 16 January 1915, Page 5

A DEFAULTING BAILIFF.

CHARGED AT STRATFORD. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. At the Stratford Magistrate's Court yesterday morning', Frederick Maurice Marlow, formerly court bailiff, who suddenly disappeared in September last, and who was recently arrested at Bangiora, was charged with receiving the sum of £sl Os 4d from Robert Hugh Cameron, in terms requiring him to account for Bame to the Clerk of Court, and failing to account for same. \V. J. Reeve, clerk of the court at Stratford, gave evidence that on 11th August, 1913, witness received a distress warrant from Marton Court for process, issued at the instance of Brice, Broad and Co., and the amount due on it was £sl 9s 4d. The warrant was handed to accused on 11th August, 1913, to execute. It was the accused's duty to either return the warrant with money, or marked "nullo bono" to the Clerk of Court. The accused did neither. On the 25th September, 1913, the following note waa left on witness' table:"Mr Reeve,— Have gone to the Mountain quarry. The two warrants are settled. It may be late in the afternoon when I get back. It is a long way. (Signed) F. Marlow." The accused in this memo, referred to warrants in the cases of Brice, Broad and Co v. Cameron and Brooking, and another, issued by Collier and Co. v. J. J\ Bevins. Witness had not seen accused since till 13th January, 1915, when lie appeared at the Court under arrest on the present charge. The total amount of his defalcations up to present were £72 odd, including the amount of the present charge. Robert Hugh Cameron, contractor, residing at Stratford, and partner in the late firm of Cameron and Brooking, said judgment was obtained in tlio Marton Court by Brice, Broad and Co for £sl 9s 4d. the accused called on him and told him that he had a warrant for £sl 9s 4d to execute against the firm. The amount was not paid at the time, but witness promised to pay him on a certain date. He saw the accused at tire Courthouse on the date promised, and paid him the sum of £sl 9s 4d by cheque. The accused did not give witness a receipt at the time, but one was received later on by post. William Francis Clouston, teller at the National Bank of New Zealand at Stratford, said the cheque was cashed at the National Bank of New Zealand at Stratford on 30th August, 1913, witness paying out on the cheque himself. To the best of his knowledge the cheque was presented by Marlow. Marlow was also charged with having received the sum of £l2 14s 8d from Mrs Julia Fitellett Bevins, in terms requiring him to account for same to the Clerk of the Court, Stratford, and with failing to do so. The Clerk of the Court said on 26th July, 1013, he received a distress warrant from the New Plymouth Court for execution on Mrs Julia Fitchett Bevins. The. warrant was issued at the instance of IT. Collier and Co., of New Plymouth, tiie amount, due being £l2 14s 8d Witness handed tin- warrant to accused on 26th July, 1913. Accused had never accounted to the Clerk of the Court for warrant or money on it.

Julia Vitchett Bevins deposed that the amount was paid by Newton King for witness.

Louis Riera. chief clerk at Newton King's, Stratford, said accused approached witness for the money due by Mrs Bevins under distress warrant on behalf of Collier and Co., and he paid accused by cheque (Cheque produced and identified, and receipt produced). Francis Divrns Oxley, teller in the Bank of New Zealand, Stratford, said that the cheque produced was according to the Bank's books cashed on 26th July, 1913. Accused pleaded guilty to both charges and was committed for sentence to the Supreme Court at Wellington.—Abridged from Stratford Post.