A CAMBRIDGE BANK CLERK ABSCONDS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2487, 19 June 1888, Page 2

A CAMBRIDGE BANK CLERK ABSCONDS.

I A cheat sensation was caused in Cambridge on Saturday evening, when it became known that Mr Esmond Porter, the accountant at the Colonial Bank, was miss-

ing, and that the travelling inspectors were examining the books. Later on it also be-

came known that a warrant for his arrest had been issued in which he was charged with embezzling about £100. We leain that the books have been falsified in a most clever manner which rendered it extremely difficult for the local manager to detect, and if the inspectors had not arrived upon the scene, th& fraud would probably have been continued for some time. Mr Porter has made himself extremely popular in Cambridge, and has always been to the fore in cricket, football, tonnis, and in getting up dances, and many express their rceret that he did not appiy to his friends to help him insteid of decamping. Tho inspectors only arrived in town on Friday evening. They wont straight to the bank and counted the cash, which \vas found correct. Porter was working with them till nearly 10 p.m., and up ';» that time nothing wrong was found. Being aware that the comparing of tho ledger and the balance-book would take place next morning he must have made up his mind to decamp. He went home, where ho has been bachelorising with Messrs Ansenne and Ilartly, and stayed th« night. As usual next morning he went to the bank at 9 o'clock, and just before 10 ho asked the manager if he could go and tell tho " football fellows" that he would b.i unable to play in the Ohaupo match. Having roceived permission he went home, got upon his horse and rode off, and did not again go near the bank. Healing that Mr Porter was not at his work, Mr Hartly called to say he was not at homo and was asked to look if ho had left his keys in his room. While searching for them iie found two cheques dated the 14th inst. and two deposit slips which clearly showed something was wrong, he afterwards found a letter addressed to himself, in which Mr Porter said he was wrong at tho bank, and that sooner than stay to disgrace his family and his wife, he intended committing suicide. He also asked the recipient to forward his box to his wife, and not tell anyone about it. There had been several rumours in Cambridge that he was a married man, but it has not been definitely known until the present time, and he appeared to be playing havoc with the hearts of the single young ladies. The lotter was, of course, delivered up to the police, as was also the box. The horse Porter rode away upon is the well-known Whakatano, lately owned by Mr Cussen. On Sunday several persons were out searching for his body as it was thought probablo he had committed the rash act he threatened, but without success. Ho was traced to Cambridge West and then, evidently intended crossing tho Waikato at the Horahora bridge, as at 12 o'clock ha lost himself in tho Maungatantari bush, having followed a cattle track when lie met a native who put him on tho right road again. The fraud has bean going on since November 18th when ho embezzled £30, anil since that time it has been taken in small sums until it reached £100. His wife is living at Napier and his father resides in Wellington and is in the Civil Service.

|BY TKLKOItAL'H.—OWN COIUIKSPONOKNT. | Auckland, Monday.

A sharp look out on tho Zealandia was kept by the detectives for Porter, of the Colonial Bunk, Cambridge, but no sign of him was discovered.