THEFT OF POSTAL PACKETS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 92, 12 January 1939, Page 5

THEFT OF POSTAL PACKETS

Offence Admitted By

Postman

Charged in the Magistrates <teurt, Wellington, yesterday with the theft ot postal packets containing money,. Alfred Iremonger, aged 49, pleaded guilty and was committed by Mr. J. 11. Luxford, S.M., to the Supreme Court for sentence. Iremonger faced three charges of theft and two of Illegally opening postal packets. Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle prosecuted, and Mr. R. I. M. Sutherland appeared for accused. Evidence showed that Iremonger was a letter-carrier employed by the General Post Office, Wellington, and had been in the service 21 years. His duties had consisted of delivering correspondence to residents and business people in Cuba Street. He had been a satisfactory officer. Detective N. J. McPhee said he made inquiries at the General Post Office on December 20 concerning the non-delivery of letters addressed to a furniture firm in Manners Street and containing money. Accused handed witness two letters which he said lie had taken from the postmen's branch on the evening of December 19. lie had opened the letters at home, examined the contents and found they contained postal notes. He sealed the envelopes and intended returning them at the first opportunity. “Accused stated that he did not know what had overcome him,” witness added, “and that for the past six months he had been taking letters addressed to thia firm. He had extracted bank notes from some of them, after which he had destroyed the envelopes.” In a voluntary statement to the police Iremonger said he did not smoke, drink or gamble, and had no reason for committing the offences. He knew that letters for the furnishing firm contained money, and he conceived the idea of taking them from the Manners Street pigeon-hole in the postmen’s branch and opening them. He did not risk taking postal notes or money-orders, in which case the letters were returned to the Manners Street pigeon-hole. He had been doing this since June, 1938, and was unable to say how many letters he opened, though he would say about three a week. Tie had taken about £2O in bank notes. "Detective McPhee added that accused had £l4 in his pocket wallet at home and admitted that £l2 of this money was taken from letters. Iremonger stated that he was anxious to make restitution in full. Tie was quite frank about the whole thing. . The total amount involved in tlj» charges was £l6/11/-. Witness had known Iremonger for about 10 years. He had always appeared to be a hardworking, decent. ty_22 of man. Evidence was gwen that none of the letters were sent by registered post. Accused was admitted to bail.