POSTAL THEFTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 118, 21 May 1934, Page 9

POSTAL THEFTS.

OFFENCES AT NGARUAWAHIA.

PROBATION GRANTED. Two years' probation was granted Robert James Gillies, aged 37, postal clerk, of Ngaruawahia, when he came before Mr. justice Ostler this, morning for sentence on two charges of theft from the Department. , Mr. H. J. Johnson, of Hamilton, on behalf of Gillies, said thai; he was u married man with two children and had been for 23 years in the postal eervice. During that "period he hnd an unblemished record. Neither' gambling nor vicious living was , associated with the thefts, which involved £21. Gillies had had difficulty in carrying on his household, and the strain had affected his mental stability. In view of the circumstances counsel asked that probation be extended. His Honor said tlfat only a few years ago the court# absolutely refused to grant probation to Government officials who when in a position of trust were guilty of the theft of money. Taking into consideration the comparative smallness of the money involved, and the fact that prisoner's mental stability had been somewhat affected by hie war services, his Honor said he would .grant probation.