THEFTS BY CLERK

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 34, 9 February 1935, Page 7

THEFTS BY CLERK

DRINK THE CAUSE

POST OFFICE LOSS

. After eighteen years, of service in the Post and Telegraph Department, Sydney William Bourke,: aged 36, a clerk, stole from the Department four sums of- money totalling £ 119,15s 7d. While he was on leave the shortage was discovered -by, his superior officers, and in the Magistrate's Court yesterday Bourke.pleaded guilty to foiir charges of theft of the money. Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M., • sentenced him to twelve months-reformative detention. :'..'■ ' -: The accused .was;-a single man, said Detective-Sergeant L..Revell. He held an important position as receiver of money for the P. arid T. Department, and when he went on leave last month his superior officers found" a shortage in his accounts. He admitted that on four occasions between. August and November-he had received large sums of money and failed to account .for them to. the department. The amounts taken totalled £119 15s 7d, but he had repaid £41 9s 3d;, leaving a balance of £78 6s 4d. Seen by Detective T. Brosnan he attributed his offences to drink. . . """. ; ■ -' ';; The accused's record was an excellent 'one* until this ' unfortunate happening, said Mr. F. W. Ongley,. his counsel. He had made efforts to borrow in order to refund the money taken, and there was no qfiestion of falsification or hiding the offence. His intention was to resign and to repay the loss with his superannuation money, which was sufficient for the purpose. He could not be, sized up as a criminal; there , was nothing vicious about him, but counsel realised the Court's duty to protect the public. _ The sentence of reformative detention was imposed on the major charge. On the three other charges Bourke was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 18 months.-