ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4946, 8 February 1895, Page 3

ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT.

—« — ilas. Vowless before Court.

A middle-aged man, named Jas. Vowless, for a number of years resident and well-known in Masterton, appeared before Messrs Hughes and M. Caselberg, J.P.'s, this (Friday) morning, to answer a charge of embezzling the sum of £l6 17s 5(1, the property of Win. Shaw, general dealer, of Masterton, in December, 1894.

Mr Beard appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Card, of Feathorston, for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. W, Shaw, sworn, stated that ho was a general dealer, and employed the accused last August as a packman to sell and deliver goods round the country. His orders were to sell the goods for cash only. His first pack was made up on the 24th of August last. The list produced in accused's own handwriting was a list of goods taken away by liim on that date. Tho agreement betweon them was that when away, the accused was to write to witness every week. First communication from accused was received about two weeks after leaving. Until tho 21st ot December following, did not see or hear anytliiugof accused, and became anxious about him, After enquiry it came out thai accused was staying at Lake Ferry Hotel. Accused, hearing that lie was enquired for by witness, wrote back, saying ho was unwell. Witness replied by letter, telling him to proceed onward with his pack, as lie could not afford to have £IOO worth of goods lying idle. Accused returned in tho latter end of December,bring back one of the horses,some small amount of goods, and only £1513s (id in cash. Upon remarking about the small amount of cash brought back for such a Ion? stay, the accused said he had about £7 owing on ?oods by men at stations, who could not pay until receiving their cheques from their manageft, but that he would go back and collect it. Witness said lo accused, " Give me your orders, and I will collect it myself." Accused replied that he must get the money himself. This was about six or seven o'clock in the evening of the 21st of December. Witness told accused he must go through the packs and see that everything was all right. Accused said he was 100 tired, but would come back the next morning. Ho asked for the loan of witness' saddle so that he could ride home to his father's for tea. Next morning accused made no appearance. Lost the run of him forabouta month after this as be had in the meantiino left Masterton, After enquiry, found that he was again at the Lake Ferry Hotel. As accused did not return, witness had tho pack gone through and the articles therein properly checked by Mr Bulling, also Mr H. Williams, and in the presence of himself. A list was made of the goods taken away, goods sold, and goods returned, and the goods which were short. Knew well what goods were in the pack. The list produced was the same as made out on that occasion, containing the above, also the amount of £3 lent to accused upon leaving with tho pack accredited with the amount of money returned to witness. Had not heard anything of, neither received any goods, money or communication from the accused since, owing to which the present action was taken. The amount short was £1617s 3d. (Left Sitting).