STOLEN LETTERS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 259, 2 August 1928, Page 16

STOLEN LETTERS

POSTAL EMPLOYEE’S THEFT REMANDED FOR SENTENCE Daniel Darwin Coyle, a letter sorter, aged 41 vears, who had been employed in the Post Office for 20 years, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate's Court yesterday to theft of three letters containing in all £4 ss. in money,- the property of the Postmaster-General. Mr. R. H. Boys, who appeared for accused, attributed the lapse to the severe illness that he had suffered. He had' been operated on no fewer than ten times during the last six years for some serious internal trouble. Chief-Detective Ward stated that on July 24 accused stole a letter containing £2 15s. The money was found in Coyle’s possession, and when questioned about other thefts which had occurred he admitted having stolen two other letters, one containing 10s. aud the other £l. “Accused,” went on Mr. Ward, “staled that when stamping the letters in question the envelopes burst, so he took the money which he saw enclosed. This story, however, is not believed, for it is.a well-known fact that letter sorters in the Post Office become very expert as to-the feel of whether there is money in letters or not. The accused has been suspected for some time past, and T. would like to point out that the offences are serious. Coyle was occupying a position of trust, and great inconvenience is caused to those whose letters go astray. Accused is not in good health, and he has never previously been before the Court.” , ...... Counsel said that accused realised that the offences were grave, and that he,was fortunate in’not being sent to the Supreme Court, as the charges could ; have been made indictable ones.- ’-At the same time Coyle had only taken the three letters despite- the fact that it had been stated that accused had been suspected for some time past. His client had been operated upon last March and had been absent from work for seven weeks without pay. When he saw the money in a letter he fell to temptation, and took it, as he did with the two other letters. Counsel asked that the accused, who was a married man with two children, be placed on probation. Coyle was remanded until Friday morning for sentence.