A FRAUDULENT TOWN CLERK.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1918, 18 July 1889, Page 4

A FRAUDULENT TOWN CLERK.

Thames, J uly 15. The Police Court was crowded today, when the charges of embezzlement against P. 0, Dean, late Town Clerk, were called on before Mr H. W. Northcroft, R.M. Accused was formally called, but did not appear. Mr Hudson-Williamson, Crown Prosecutor, said he was well aware that Dean would not appear to-day, as from information received on Saturday he knew that accused had left the district under cover of darkness last Thursday night in a fishing beat, and had made his escape out of the gulf. The late Town Clerk had proved himself to be a consummate scoundrel, and it was to be regretted that the burgesses could not be shown how sadly their affairs had been neglected by those who should have looked after them. As the result of the audit so far made by Mr Mclntyre it had been disclosed that moneys of the ratepayers considerably exceeding £IOOO had been fraudulently misappropriated by Dean, and there was no doubt whatever but that, if further investigations were made it would be found that these defalcations would extend over several years past.; The means resorted to by Dean had been of every conceivable description of deceit, and the forgeries had simply been artistic. Not long ago the public bad been surprised at the revelations in Pigott’s case, but a greater Pigott had existed among them at the Thames. The initials of councillors on the finance committee's report and entries in the minute book had been very cleverly forged, and many other means of deceit resorted to by their late town clerk. It had also been discovered that he had made an improper use of the stamps of houses of business here, and under the whole of these circumstances it was not to be wondered at that he was not to be found. Tbs burgesses of Thames might be congratulated that this. “ old man of the sea,” who had been such a burden on their shoulders for so long, had now happily been got rid of. Ho would ask Ills Worship under section J3S of the Justices of the Peace Act to endorse on the recognisance that Dean had made default, and that the bonds should be estreated. His Worship agreed to do this, and to issue a fresh warrant which concluded the proceedings. The police have reason to bsJieve a that Dean, late Town Clerk of tW Thames, charged with embezzling up-, wards of £IOOO, escaped to iSorfolij Island by the steamer Christina, and. Detective Herbert has been sent h* pursuit. I