"BURLESQUE OF CRIME."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 428, 10 February 1909, Page 11

"BURLESQUE OF CRIME."

, »— % YOUTH ROBS A POST OFFICE. r * v tDT VeUliivtrn—thiss AesobiktiosU AUcklartd, Fobiuary 8. At the triminal sittings of the Supremo Court to-day a south named Charles Stewart Legfio was brought up on t\ro chaigcß 6t theft from tho post office, Coroinande. Counsel for the ateused (Mr. Knrl) designated tho affah 1 as being something lute a lrarlesquo of otimo. Lcgge, a youth of bnroly 19,' employed in tho ipost office, had through sheer mental incapacity got Ins money accounts mixed, and had conceived the idea of having a burglary to clear tho, situation. Ho had in fact talked about this impending burglary in Quito an open mhnner, end had dneussed the probable results of it even with "his chief, and then eame the bitrglory itself, tho loss of £39 odd, and the subsequent admission of the prisoner that he h&d , put tho money in a kerosene tin down the garta. Tho prisoner had at all times been dull wittcd. Taken in as a lettei-cafrler. , he had soon afterwards been putni charge ot a counter, and was Dntrustcd with the pivml&nt Of old age pensions, amounting to £220 a month. Mentally Mali, he used to find himself several pounds out in his accounts, areued Mr Earl, and apparently the only \ wa\ l he saw out of tho difficulty *as the fantastic ono of holding a burglary. Hib Honour said that tho case before him was tlcarly so Unusual and diffe r ent fronj the average offence that hp did not intend to send the prisoner to Gaol. Hβ wculd be convicted and orderyj to appear foi sentohco when requiied, bosides being called upon 'to pay tho coßts of the prosecution forthwith— £2 14s. '