Mexborough and Swinton Times June 29, 1928
Converted Money To Own Use
Conisboro’ Offences,
Agent Charged.
Thomas Aokroyd (28), an insurance agent, of Great Yarmouth, was sentenced to 2 months imprisonment at Doncaster on Friday, on two charges of converting to his own use, when bailee, cheques of £14 1s 6d belonging to the Prudent Assurance Company. By whom he had been employed as agent at Conishorough.
The prisoner said he would plead guilty to both charges providing he was credited with having repaid £5 on the check for £14 13s 11d.
Mr WJ Bradford of Rotherham, prosecuted, and said on June 22, 1927, a loan of £25 and grinned was granted John assured person, leaving an outstanding premium of £10 18s 6d. A cheque for the balance £14 1s 6d was sent to the killed, but made payable to the assured.
In January 1928, the assured apply for the surrender value of his policy, which was £89 left alone at £25 and interest. The sum of £63 2s 9d was sent to the assured with the cancelled loan agreement, but he refused accept, and said he never had the cheque for £14 1s 6d. He also said that the signalling series on the loan agreement for £25 and endorsement on the cheque was not his, in other words that the scimitars were forged by the prisoner.
The prisoner was seen at Great Yarmouth and admitted receiving the cheque and endorsed it in the name of the assured, and also signed a statement that he did so to help to pay deficiencies.
On the second charge, Mr Radford said that on May 27, 1927, a loan of £25 were granted to another assured person, let outstanding loan and interest of £10 6s 1d, and a cheque for £14 13s 11d, payable to the assured was sent to the accused to be handed over.
In April, 1928; in response to a demand note from the company, wrote that he received only £15, not £25. Accused was again interviewed, and he admitted having ‘endorsed the cheque for £14 13s. 11d, gei paid the assured only £5. The balance £3 13s. 11d.. prisoner had converted to his own use.
Mr. Bradford said it was regrettable to see the prisoner in the position he was, but on the other hand the employers reposed certain trust and confidence in their agents and it would be impossible to carry on if such things as the prisoner was charged with were allowed. He could have asked for the prisoner to be committed to the Assizes on a more serious enlarge.
Prisoner, from the dock, said he got into a” hole” with his books during the coal dispute of 1926. It was a question of finding certain money or losing his job. Nobody knew the position at that time. Re allowed people to go on when their policies showed have lapsed owing to non-payment.
Charles Redman, superintendent of agents said prisoner was discharged from the employ of the Prudential Assurance Company, because of what was found at an audit in May 1927, relative to sums due for premiums.
The chairman of magistrates (Mr. E.L Bingham), said the magistrates were sorry to find the prisoner in the position he was and at the same time they appreciated what the Prudential Company had John in reducing the charge.
Prisoner would be committed for a month, on each charge,