DEFALCATION ADMITTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 January 1939, Page 5

DEFALCATION ADMITTED

ODD FELLOWS’ LODGE FUNDS. INQUEST ON LATE MR A. RIPPON. A letter signed by the late Mr Alfred Rippon, admitting a defalcation of lodge funds, and stating that the money had been lost in gambling was handed in at the inquest on Saturday afternoon concerning Mi' Rippon's death. The late Mr Rippon was found dead in the Odd Fellows’ Lodge Room, on Saturday. Mr E. G. Eton, District Coroner, presided. James Henry Morris, son-in-law of the late Mr Rippon, said he last saw deceased on Friday, near the Odd Fellows Hall, Queen Street, at about 8 p.m. He then appeared to be quite normal. Witness said he had known Mr Rippon for about six years and during that time he had never heard him talking of taking his own life. He knew of no reason why he should have done so. Witness also gave evidence of identification. Frederick Arnold Davis, of Johnsonville, district auditor and book examiner for the Odd Fellows Lodge (Wellington district) said he arrived in Masterton on Saturday at about 12.15 p.m., and proceeded to the Odd Fellows Hall in Queen Street for the purpose of conducting the annual audit of the books of the Loyal Masterton Lodge, of which Mr Rippon was the financial secretary. The lodge room was unlocked, and the books of the lodge were laid out on the table, together with an envelope containing notes addressed to witness, which he had handed to the police. There was also an order to the Bank of N.S.W. to enable witness to uplift the lodge pass book. Witness said he immediately went to the bank but was unable to gain admittance. He then returned to the lodge room and noticed a slight smell of gas. On looking through the slide into the kitchen witness said he saw Mr Rippon lying on the floor with his head in the gas oven. He immediately turned off the gas. and dragged the body out into the passage. Witnfess then summoned a constable and a doctor. After witness had made a perusal of the lodge books, he stated that the indications were that there was a shortage of about £l5O of certain funds shown as being in the hands of Mr Rippon as secretary. The note addressed to Mr Davis and signed by the late Mr Rippon stated: “Dear Fred. “Sorry old chap, but I admit the defalcation. I’m done. I have no fight left. “Don’t tell the world. Fred, make it easy for me. I’m not worth it, I know.” “I have lost the money gambling.” On another sheet, the bottom portion of which had been torn ofi, appeared the following:— “Dear Bro. “I have left the books clear and correct in every detail, but I won’t be here at the audit. “I can assure you the balances are all correct.” The inquest was adj craned sine die.