ALLEGED FRAUD.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1918, Page 2

ALLEGED FRAUD.

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOB SENTENCE.

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before A. Crooke, Esq., fS.M., William Alfred Warner appeared on remand on a series of charges of receiving money ou terms requiring him to account for it to Massey, Harris and Co., Ltd., Cliristcliurcli, and fraudulently failing to account to tlieni for it. The total was £49 lis lbd, received between December 28, 1917, and March 9, 1018, made up as follows: C. 0. Hawkc, £2 17s fid; R. I<\ Giddy, £4 14s 4d; C. J. Sorrenson £lB 10s; andH. Eustace, £2l 12s 6d and £1 17s fld.

Accused was not represented by counsel. Sub-Inspector Hutton prosecuted and outlined the facts of the case as borne out in the evidence. Charles Octavius Hawke, farmer and fancy goods dealer, residing at New Plymouth, deposed that he had bought & scuffer from accused as agent of the Massey, Harris Co., on December 28th, and on the same date paid £2 IBs net, receiving a, receipt produced. In reply to the Magistrate as to whether he had any questions to ask, the accused replied, "No, your Worship, I plead; guilty to all charges. It's no use wasting your time, Sir.' Similar evidence was given by Carl Johannes Sorrenson, farmer. Smart, Rd.,. who paid £lB 10s for a mower on February. 10th, 1918; Richard Frederick Giddy, farmer, Lepperton, £4 !4s 4d..0n February 10, 1918., as part payment for a plough, and H. Eustace, farmer. Brixton, March 9, £2l 12s 6 for a plough and £1 17s 6d for another small item. T. Fitzgibbons, plain-clothes constable, stationed at New Plymouth, deposed that he had seen accused on the previous day and showed him the agreement and he admitted that the signature of A. Warner thereon, was his. That morning when witness charged him with four informations, he made no reply. Thomas Armstrong, inspector, of the Massey, Harris Co., deposed that about April 15th he came to New Plymouth and later saw accused at .Julian's hotel, Waitara, informing him that he had come to investigate cases of money that had been paid on behalf of the company and which had not been remitted. Accused admitted tho cases of Eustace, Giddy and Sorrenson, but witness said there was a fourth , viz., Hawke. This accused admitted also. He stated that the agency was his only means of livelihood and that he had got into trouble and thought that the commissions that would be due to him would make good the amounts he had used. Witness demanded a receipt book thai; accused had in his pocket. This, accused handed him, together with a machinery order. Witness arranged to meet accused at New Plymouth, the following day to receive other papers, but accused failed to turn up and witness had not since seen him until that day. The agency contract provided that, all moneys received on behalf of the company were to be remitted to the company's head office, Christchurch, or banked to their credit in the Bank ot New South Wales, New Plymouth. Accused had no authority to deduct commissions for himself. Tlw.se would be paid at the termination of the company's financial year. Had accused required an advance on account of liia commission lie should have applied to Christchurch.

Accused, who pleaded guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.