"WANTS GOOD HIDING."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 254, 26 October 1928, Page 9

"WANTS GOOD HIDING."

INDECENT LETTERS POSTED.

A.H.B. GATEKEEPER FINED £20.

HOW HE SPENT HIS NIGHTS

I For some time past an employee of a city drapery firm has been receiving indecent letters through the post. The matter was reported to the police, and Detective Sergeant Doyle was set the task of catching the culprit. It took Mr. Doyle some time, but lie succeeded. He found that the letters were written on paper with which employees of the Auckland Harbour Board are supplied for their official use, while the postmarks showed that the letters were usually posted between midnight and 5 a.m. from the Chief Post Office. And so strong suspicion fell upon a Harbour Board gatekeeper named T. Griffin, who formerly was a neighbour of the man who received the filthy epistles through the post. This morning Griffin, for whom Mr. Allan Moody appeared, was charged, at the Police Court, with causing an indecent document to be sent through the post. ° The facts were admitted. Chief Detective Hammond said that when Griffin lived next door to complamtant a dispute arose over water on a section. Griffin left, the Point Chevalier district, and some time afterwards complainant received a batch of anonymous letters which were of a disgusting nature and reflected on complainant's honesty and his wife's character. Some of the letters were enclosed in official envelopes bearing the inscription "On His Majesty's Service." Anonymous letters, particularly scurrilous letters as these are, do untold harm," said Mr. Hammond.

"Horrible Letters." * i * S . no doubt, they are horrible letters, said the magistrate, Mr. F K Hunt, after perusing them. Moody' 1 haVe ICad them '" re Plied Mr.

~ H » n t: Griffin wants a good hiding, that s what he deserves.

Mr. Moody said that Griffin was an Imperial Army man who had served four years at the war. "The effects of his war disabilities caused him to adopt this ridiculous attitude to complainant his disabilities and resultant ill-health preyed on his mind."

P re tty filthy mind to prey on, then," said Mr. Hunt. Mr. Moody stated that accused was a married man, of previous good character. He regretted his action and if it was not too late he desired to apologise. Mr Hu„t : If it were not for the fact that he is a married man I would send nun to gaol. He will be lined £20, in default three months' imprisonment. "May he have time to pav, sav a month?" asked Mr. Moody. Mr. Hunt: He can have fourteen days to pay. J "Three Months Next Time." Later, when entering his decision in the criminal record book, the magistrate said to himself "seven days to pay." "I heard your Worship the first time, sir, is he to have fourteen days?" "All right," replied the S.M. Turning to Griffin, he said: Look here, a repetition of this offence and you will got three months up above without the option of a fine. Instead of watching the wharf you have been writing these .letters all night long. Mr. Moody: Some of the others adopted that recreation too, but they are not down there now.

"Griffin was a special constable, too," broke in Chief Detective Hammond.

"Now don't rub it into the police too much," said coursel.

"See that Griffin does not act anylonger as a special constable," were the magistrate's final words to Mr. Hammond.