POST OFFICE THEFTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 52, 30 August 1939, Page 13

POST OFFICE THEFTS

EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY

Theft of various sums of money while acting as a teller in the Te Aro Post Office was admitted by Vincent Brinsley Nielsen, a telegraphist, aged 38, who appeared before Messrs. A. R. Hornblow and G. E. R. Fownes, J.P.s, in the Magistrate's Court today. Nielsen was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

Leonard Harry John Power, inquiring officer employed by the Post and Telegraph Department, said that the accused was employed as a senior telegraphist at Te Aro Post Office, but between August 1 and 21 he was engaged in relieving duties as a teller on the counter at that branch. On August 21 witness interviewed the accused concerning a deposit of £2 made by a man named Harrison. The accused said he had received the' deposit and deposit slip and had retained both of them. In the presence of the accused witness examined the cash advance of £25 made to him as a teller and which was to be retained in his charge while engaged in that occupation. He discovered a deficiency of £17 4s in that advance, and the accused, who was very frank, said he had taken this money for his personal use. Witness described an examination of registration levy slips and other documents, and said that the total deficiency revealed was £23 10s 2d, and the accused admitted having stolen the money. The method adopted by the accused was that when he received payment from some member of the public he would retain the cash and the accompanying slip. Nielsen had been employed by the Department for about 22 yer^s. Detective Cleary read an admission made by the accused, who said that for the past few months he had been living beyond his means.