MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 179, 18 April 1918, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

. THEFT OP POSTAL PACKET. . Mr. W. G. Hiddell, S.M., presided at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, and dealt with the police cases. A youth named Ernest John Mathieson,. alias Charles Shaw, was charged that on April 6, at Tawa Flat, ho did fraudulently retain a Postal packet—a registered letter—containing J& in money and a Postal uota for 55., which he ought to have delivered to Oscar Greer. Lucy ■ Elizabeth liolleston said she resided in 'Wellingf.oii with her mother, -and knew Mr. Greer. On April S, at her mother's request, she wrote a letter to Mr. Greer, and the envelope contained in addition' to the letter one £a note, three JGI notes,'and a Postal note for ss. The letter was registered at the General Post Office, and on the (lay previous she sent a telegram to Mr. Greer to say that a registered ietter was being sent to him. Oscar Greer, farmer, Tawa Flat stated that the accused had been in his employ from August, 1917,' to April 8, 1918. He received a telegram on April 4 from Miss Eolleston, and in consequence sent the accused to the Tawa Flat .Post Office on the following day, telling him that there was a.registered letter containing money. The letter and contents never reached witness. Accused was asked if he had obtained the registered letter, and replied that it had not come. He asked the accused on April 6 end again on April Bif he had obtained the letter. On the latter date accused left Ms employ suddenly. Detective-Sergeant Cox stated that on April 13 he interviewed accused in respect to another matter, whon he made a frank confession, which was reduced to writing 'and signed by the accused. In this statement he admitted receiving the letter and abstracting the money. Accused pleaded $uilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. OTHER" CASES. For insobriety Axel Williamson, against whom there were three previous convictions, was'fined 405., in default seven days' imprisonment. William Armstrong was fined 205., with tho alternative of 48 hours' imprisonment, and David Perrett was fined 10s., w : th the option of serving 21 hours in gaol.