THEFTS OF LETTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 251, 22 October 1926, Page 5

THEFTS OF LETTERS.

YOUTH TOVtm GVTLTY. TWO YEARS AT BORSTAL. (Sγ Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. "It is quite impossible in cases like yours, involving the theft of poetal matter, to grant probation. Endlese trouble may be caueed by the theft of letters. Probation ie out of the question," said Mr. Justice Reed, in the Supreme Court to-day, to a youth named Maggen Jamea Lovatt Fraser, aged 18, who had pleaded guilty to seven charges 6f theft involving postal packets of the value of £10 18/, whilst employed at Ohakune. Mr. Scott (for the youth), said Fraeer had cleared ochere in the office of any suspicion by telling the truth, and was ! willing to "make restitution if given a chance to get some work. His Honor having- been told stolen money -went in picture shows and dances, remarked that the trouble with young men like accused wae that they never attempted to cave. They spent all they got, and when short of cas-h they etole. Although it was always painful to see a yruth on the threshold of life ruin hie career, there was. a duty to be performed to the public, and accused would be sentenced to two years' detention at the Borstal Institute.