STOLEN LETTERS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17807, 5 July 1923, Page 5

STOLEN LETTERS.

DEFAULTING POSTAL OFFICER,

; Martin Matthew Holland, a young man, pleaded guilty at the Magistrate's Court, yesterday, to seven charges of having stolen postal packages while ho was an employe© of the Post and Telegraph .Department at Darfleld. The, counts were dated between October 6th, 1920, and June 20th, 1923. Messrs J, H. Seager and J. W.-Beanr land, J.P.'s were on the- Bench. Mr L. L. Hitchings represented accused.

Detective Bickerdike, who prosecuted, stated that nearly 700_ letters had been taken by the accused in a period of five years. "When he was arrested, 683 letters and telegrams were found in his room. '

Tho first charge. was in connexion with a letter sent from Duvsmchellc.

Nellie Ivy Wooleock, an employe© of Whitoombe and Toombs,'Ltd., stated that the letter produced was posted by her to Mrs Sutherland, Duvaucbello, in October, 1920. Wilhelmina Sutherland, a postal employee at Chxistchureh, and formerly afc Duvauchelte, gave evidence that ehe did Sot receive the letter mentioned by the previous witness and produced. William BrougLton, Hcmebush, gayo "evidence as to posting, at 3>arfielu, three letters to William Nolan, in April, 1923.

- William Nolan, stationmaster at I>arMd, stated that ho did not receive tho letters. Tho accused did not hava authority to detain the letters. Joseph E. Broadfoot, Chief Postmaster, Christchnrch, stated that he was present at Darfield when the accused made a statement to Detective Bickerdike concerning the theft of letters. The witness had posted three; letters (produced) to tho postmaster, at Darfield. Tho accused had no authority to detain them. The idea had gup abroad that the letters stolen were tho property of tho. public; tho great bulk of themj wero official loiters. Detective J. Bickerdike produced tho statement made by Holland, in whitib he admitted his guilt. Holland madeno reply t. hen he was arrested. Th© witness searched Holland's room and found 683 letters nnd telegrams, some of which were open. Thero were also some in accused's pockete. To Mr Hitchings: Holland said ihab he had been drinking, when ssked why ho took the letters. He did not efcy. that he had bren in trouble.

Holland pleaded guilty, and was coaxmitted to the Supreme Court for Bentence. Bail was allowed, self in £3OO -aad three•mreiifis of £lCfli<si<,il-