LETTERS STOLEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 63, 15 March 1944, Page 6

LETTERS STOLEN

MAN IN POSTAL VAN

! SENTENCE OF ONE MONTH

Boarding the north-bound Wei

j lington-Auckland express as it was I about to leave Frankton Junction at ' 4.30 a.m. last Thursday. Detectivei Sergeant P. Kearney, Detective Halpin and two postal officials made in- ' quiries in the postal van. •which re- ! suited in the arrest of James Edward Brett (3S), soldier and postal l employee, on a charge of stealing, I between Marton Junction and Tai- ! hape, 1-1 postal packets from the ! postal van. | Brett, for whom Mr. I. J. Gold-, i stine appeared, came before Mr. J. | Molding, S.M., in the Police Court this morning and pleaded guilty. | Detective-Sergeant J. Trethewey, ■ who prosecuted, said that in Sepj tember last, as the result of complaints received by the post office authorities from sencers of letters to trading firms in Auckland, it became apparent that letters were being stolen on the mail van on the north-bound Wellington - Auckland express. Inquiries made showed I that Brett, who was, and still is, an | employee of the Post and Telegrapn ! Department., and who had been emj ployed as a sorter for many years j before being called up for service with the Army, was in the habit of ! riding in the mail van on the express while on his visits to Auckland. Since January Brett had been stationed at Linton and Waiouru camps. He had made periodic visits to Auckland.

Detectives Board Train "When Detective-Sergeant Kearney, Detective Halpin and two postal officers boarded the mail van as the express was leaving Frankton last Thursday morning they found accused in the van with two sorters," continued Mr. Tretheway. "Following investigations Brett admitted stealing 14 letters from a bench in the van, between Marton and Taihape. 1-Ie produced the letters from his pocket. All had been addressed to trading firms in Auckland and had been opened. Brett said that after stealing the letters he opened them in the lavatory and extracted £7 in notes. There was also £5 10/11 in postal notes and a cheque for £2 0/9. The notes, postal notes and cheque have been recovered. Brett said he had not extracted the postal notes and cheque from the envelopes, and he said he intended to destroy them."

Detective-Sergeant Trethewey said Brett had no authority to be in the mail van. It was a bad type of offence and one that placed grave suspicion on various members of the postal I service. "Has Ruined Himself" "This is a most distressing case, for overnight this man, who has had an unblemished character for the whole of his life, has ruined himself," said Mr. Goldstine. "I am sure that had he not taken liquor while waiting for the train at Palmerston North this theft would never have occurred." Counsel added that Brett was married' and joined the Post and Telegraph Department in May of 1920 when a boy of 15. He had risen through the ranks to the position of senior clerk. He entered tiie Army in May,-1942, and rose to the rank of sergeant. While in the Army he had been in charge of many letters and much money. His Army record was an excellent one. His wife had developed nervous trouble and this had caused worry to the accused, who was concerned about her health. Brett went into the mail van with the! permission of the postal agent, and while there he succumbed to sudden temptation. In view of the fact that Brett would now lose his position with the P. and T. Department, and that this was his first lapse to blight his whole future, Mr. Goldstine asked for leniency and suggested that probation might be extended. -

I Public Confidence Involved After standing the matter down until he obtained a report from the probation officer, the magistrate said the Court must consider the effects of Brett's actions upon the confidence which persons and firms reposed in the post office. There were some features which did not bear out the suggestion that the offence was committed without premeditation. Most of the letters were addressed to one firm and were letters which appeared likely to contain money. Brett had been allowed in the mail van by men who trusted him. "I feel that after considering the matter carefully and having the benefit of a report from the probation' officer, I would be wrong in granting probation." Brett was sentenced to one month's imprisonment.