Bowser Attendant Admits Large Thefts

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 217, 13 September 1940, Page 4

Bowser Attendant Admits Large Thefts

OVER £SOO INVOLVED Misappropriations totalling £546 3s were admitted by Ernest William Smith, bowser attendant, aged 49 year 3, of Palmerston North, in the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Messrs. J. T. Bosworth and W. G. Ashworth, J.P.s. Accused was represented by Mr. A. M. Ongley while Detective O. Power conducted the prosecution. W. C. Harrington, accountant, of Palmerston North, arid accused was engaged as manager of Bowden’s service station, Cuba Street, Palmerston North. Shortly after March last witness made an audit of the books of the service sta-

tion to discover an increase in tho number of sundry debtors compared with the previous year. The total amount outstanding was approximately £SOO. He called a meeting between himself, Smith and the firm’s accountant. Accused had confessed, stating that the amount involved was approximately £4OO. Witness produced a list of customers with their indebtedness and the amounts of the misappropriations. The total was £497 8s Id. That was the position on May 6. Mrs. Bowden had agreed to give Smith a chance provided he paid £2 a week to reduce the misappropriations. Smith ’« wages were reduced accordingly and it was insisted ithat he was to leave the hotel where he was staying. To Mr. Ongley witness said accused

was entitled to commissions on sale and according to a record produced b Mr. Ongley, the firm owed Smit

of adjustment (the record Ehowed) £4 6s 8d had been paid to him monthly with Smith writing eff £l5O 6s 7d. Wit ness, however, said he could not recol lect the arrangement.

To Detective Power witness said that the record showed that the indebtedness to Smith by the firm was cancelled out in January, 1939. Detective G. Long stated that accused had signed a written statement which revealed that he had been manager of the service station for 7 years. In July, 1938, he had gone for a trip around the Islands and on his return had commenced thefts of small amounts. When accounts had been paid to him he would not credit the customer with the amount and when next month the account rendered was issued, he would alter the account. Smith had said he had been drinking heavily and had also confessed to thefts since May last when short of pocket money. When accounts had been paid by cheque Smith said his procedure had been to put it into the till and take out the equivalent in cash. No credit would be put through. Smith had kept a record of the accounts he had operated on so that he could adjust the monthly statements to disclose the true position to each customer, the idea being that they would not suspect his misappropriations. The total amount of misappropriations admitted by Smith was £546 3s.

Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, bail being renewed.