BREACH OF POSTAL ACT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9051, 23 July 1917, Page 3

BREACH OF POSTAL ACT

A M£THV£N CAS£

At the Rakaia Magistrate's Court, before Messrs J. A. liiackley and U. Tucker, J.'s.i'., I'atricK ilrick,. farmer, or Mitciiam, was charged unuer the Post and Telegraph Act wren making a iaJse declaration regarding tno posting oi valuables. Aluert uoorge Weelen, postmaster at Motliven, gave evidence that on May 2-1 the accused complained that he hau posted a letter to the Receiver ol JUind Revenue at Christehurch, and it bad not reached its destination. He stated that it contained three £20 notes and 15s worth of penny stamps, and that it was posted at Methven on January 25. The accused signed the customary form, which contained a warning notice that it was an offence to make a false notice.

Thomas Harrison, farmer, at Waimarama, near Methven, said that the accused had done ploughing for him. On November 21 he handed the accused a cheque for £66, and on January 15 one for £33 5s 6d. He had not paid him, a cheque for £65 in January..

G: W. Palmer, Receiver of Land Revenue, said that the accused leased a Government farm at Mitcham, the half-yearly rent being £60 18s 4d. Up to January accused paid promptly, but nothing was-received in January. On March 6 witness sent out a notice that the rent had not been paid. He received a. reply dated April 1. He had not received the money as alleged, and he wrote asking accused to make inquiries. In reply he received a letter dated June 8.

Detective-Sergeant Gibson said that on June 8 he interviewed the accused at Mitch am, and asked for particulars of the money letter. He said that it contained three £20 notes, which he had got by cashing a cheque for £65 received from Harrison during January. He did not remember where he bought the stamps. ". Accused was shown the two cheques, and then confessed that he had never sent the money. He was hard up at the time, and thought that by making, a complaint he would get more time. The accused pleaded guilty, and was committed for sentence at the next sitting of the Supreme Court.