POSTAL THEFTS
TWO MEN SENTENCED
Thomas James Lanning, a postman, aged 32, who had pleaded guilty in Wellington on April 23 to . seven charges of stealing a postal packet, was sentenced to fifteen months' hard labour by the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) in the Supreme Court yesterday. His Honour said the offence was very serious and was one that might have very serious consequences, as money stolen might be essential to the person to whom ,it was sent. It was impossible to pass over the crime without imprisonment—the prisoner was single And had been earning a salary of £273.
Mr. W. R. Birks, who appeared for the Crown, said the prisoner had given an order on his superannuation for £6 which had not been recovered, and his Honour said he would take that into account in passing sentence.
John Melvin Smith, a railway porter and postal officer, aged 18, was sent to a Bostel institution for two years on five charges of theft as a. postal officer. He pleaded guilty at Hawera. His Honour said it was- not desirable that one so young should be sent to prison, but it must be made perfectly plain that an offence of that kind could not be committed with impunity.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 100, 30 April 1941, Page 12
Word Count
208POSTAL THEFTS Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 100, 30 April 1941, Page 12
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