THEFT OF LODGE FUNDS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8863, 24 October 1907, Page 5

THEFT OF LODGE FUNDS.

AYSON COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE.

William Douglas Ayson appeared,, on remand, at the Masteron Magistrate's Court, yesterday morning, before Mr W; P. James, S.M., charged, with having, on or about June 4th, stolen the sum of £l7 8s 2d, the property of Stonehenge Lodge U.A.O:D. Mr C. A. Pownall appeared for the prosecution, and Mr P. L. Hollings. for the defence. Mr Hollings asKed that the Magistrate should deal with the case summarily, but his Worship did not entertain the request, as, he said, it was a case for a judge and jury. David Alexander Pickering, actingsecretary of the Lodge on June 4th, gave evidence as to the receipt of £l7 8s 2d, night contributions at the meeting of the Lodge on June 4th. This amount he had handed to the accused as treasurer. Mr Hollings here admitted that the accused had received the amount stated. Godwin E. A. Hood, secretary of the Lodge, said it was the duty of the accused, as treasurer, to deposit in the ba"nk contributions received at meetings as early as possible the next day. He produced the rules of the Lodge under which moneys received are required to be banked within 48 hours. The bank passhook, did not show that the £l7 8? 2d received on June 4th had been banked. The Lodge balance-sheet up to May 31st had been certified to as correct by the auditors. In cross-examination by Mr Hollings, witness said he had been given to understand that the Lodge would not lose anything over the affair as he believed that an arrangement had been made by someone on behalf of the accused to make good the loss. Thomas B. Michell, one of the trustees of the Lodge, and informant in the cage, gave evidence as to the Lodge being duly registered. He also said that the stolen money represented the amount received in contributions on election night, June 4th. Under cross-examination, witness stated that some arrangement, satisfactory to the Lodge's solicitor, had been made by which restitution would be made to the Lodge for the missing money. C. C. Cox, accountant in the Bank of Australasia, Masterton, said the Lodge kept its account at the bank. The accused, as treasurer, had deposited money from time to time in the bank,to the credit of the Lodge. No sum of £l7 8s 2djiad been lodged in the bank by accused, either on June 4th or since that date. After the evidence had been heard, the accused entered a plea of guilty, and called the following witnesses, who gave evidence as to knowing him for some years to be of good character:—W. H.' L. Galwey, manager of the Bank of New South Wales, Masterton; M. C. O'Connell, J.P.; Duncan McGregor, an ex-Mayor of Masterton; E. G. Eton, J.P.; J. L. Mui*ray, draper; and E. McEwen, J.P. Accused was then committed to the. Wellington Supreme Court for sentence on Tuesday next. Bail, which was forthcoming, was allowed in accused's own recognisance of £IOO and two other sureties of £IOO each.