ALLEGED THEFT OF MAIL-BAG

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 8, 4 October 1927, Page 6

ALLEGED THEFT OF MAIL-BAG

$ TAYLOR BEFORE THE COURT SUBSTANTIAL BAIL IMPOSED Hamilton, October 3. There was a crowded gallery of interested spectators at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when William Harold Melville Taylor, married, aged 30, was charged with the theft, on September 3, of a mail-bag and its contents, the property of the Postmaster-General. Detective Sweeney appeared . for the prosecution, and Mr. J. Strang watched the proceedings on behalt of the accused, who was arrested on Saturday. A remand until October 12 was sought- by Detective Sw’eeney, and Mr. - Strang ’ intimated . that he would consent, asking the Magistrate (Mr. Wyvern Wilson) to consider an application for bail on such security as was thought adequate. Counsel said he understood that accused was charged with the theft of the mail-bag and its contents, of considerable value, most of which was nou-negotia_blc documents for which payment was immediately stopped when the bag was lost. Counsel had no knowledge of the value of the remainder- of the missing contents, but he understood the essence of the case against accused was that he was alleged to have attempted to negotiate two cheques, believed to have been in the bag. Accused had been iu the town for a good many years, Mr. Strang continued, and was iu business as an employee of a land agency. Detective Sweeuey stated that the official estimate of the bag’s contents was about 1000 postal packets, including non-negotiable cheques to the value of £50,000 or £60,000, which were being forwarded from Auckland banks to this district. In the missing bag were two specific postal packets, one containing a cheque for £lB Bs. 4d., and the other another cheque for £lO os. 5d., which the detective said accused was seen to pass. lhat was the evidence he had to offer at present. “Accused is not unknown to us,’ added Detective Sweeney. The Magistrate: Is he favourably known to you ? Detective Sweeney: No, your Worship. . The Magistrate fixed bail at £lOOO. £5OO personal and two sureties. .of £250 each, ou the special condition that accused reported to the Hamilton police daily at 9 a.m.