ALLEGED THEFT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 February 1941, Page 2

ALLEGED THEFT

TRIAL OF PHYLLIS BARNETT I I — ACCUSED GIVES EVIDENCE. I , INCIDENT IN SOLICITOR’S OFFICE. i ! (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. February 11. The trial of Phyllis Olive Barnett, I aged 31, on a charge of the theft of i £BOO, the property of Marj r Cochrane Baird and Sarah McNeish Baird, was continued before Mr. Justice Blair and a jury in the Supreme Court today. Accused is conducting her own defence. Addressing the jury in her own defence. Barnett outlined the evidence she proposed giving to show that her employer. Robert Urquhart, solicitor, knew of the payment of £BOO at the time it was made. Denis Kirk. Native agent, in evidence said he had acted for Urquhart for several years. In December, 1939. he received a letter from accused stating that Miss Baird had another £BOO for investment and asking if he had any investment similar to a former one he had managed for the same client. He had none and said so. He was in Urquhart’s office in July last and recollected hearing Urquhart asking Miss Barnett what was to be done with Miss Baird's £BOO. Accused, in evidence, said she joined Urquhart’s office in June, 1937. Miss Baird called at the office in October. 1939, and paid over £6OO in connection with a mortgage. In December. 1939, she telephoned witness, stating that she would call at the office during the lunch hour to deposit the money in Urquhart's trust account. She called and produced several bundles of banknotes and she and witness commenced to count one bundle. Miss Baird then left, saying she must return to work, and asked witness to send the trust account receipt. Witness said she put the money in a drawer in Urquhart’s room and went to her own room across the passage and worked there till he came in.

"I went to Urquhart’s room with him and we attended to the checking of the notes.” she said. “I was going to make up the trust receipt when Urquhart said: "Don’t worry about the receipt now. Place the money in the Savings Bank and there will be no need to put it through the books."

Later, witness said, she made out a receipt and handed it. to Miss Baird next day.

"From the final checking of the £BOO with Urquhart I had no knowledge of what happened to the money." she added. “I assumed he had placed it in the bank.

"In January 15. 1940. Urquhart told me he had used the £BOO for some purpose but said it was secured.” witness continued. "There were no further discussions about the money till July 8. when there was a general sorting of the various accounts. Urquhart said the most he could find was £600.”

To the Crown Prosecutor, Mr. V. R. Meredith, witness said the two cheques for £450 and £l5O had been drawn in favour of Miss Baird. She admitted they had found their way into her own banking account.

When further questions were put to witness she claimed privilege and declined to answer them. The hearing was adjourned.