§ MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the actuary of the Sudbury Savings Bank absconded on Monday, 23rd October, leaving a letter addressed to the Trustees stating that he had falsified the books for many years, which was discovered on the following day, and on examination of the pass books it was found that specific sums of money had been misappropriated; and can he explain why no application was made to the Justices for a warrant for his arrest until Thursday, 9th November, 16 days .after the actuary had absconded?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT, Derby)I am informed that it was necessary to get in the pass-books and make a detailed examination of the bank-books before it was possible to specify the particular amounts which had been appropriated, which was necessary in order to lay a sworn information.
§ MR. HOWELLWere not the defalcations sufficiently well known without waiting for the books to be examined?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI have given the House the information supplied to me.
§ MR. HOWELLI shall repeat the question.