POSTMASTER CHARGED

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 March 1925, Page 3

POSTMASTER CHARGED

SHORTAGE IN ACCOUNTS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 26. Charged with the theft of £3B, as Postmaster at Lyall Bay, George Edwards, married, aged forty-three, pleaded not guilty, and was committed lor .trial. An employee of the General 1 ost 01fice, who audited the accounts at Lyall Bay stated that he found a shortage of £3B. A clerk from the General Post Office states that on March 11 he took charge of Lyall Bay Post Office, knowing that an audit had previously been made. Witness balanced the cash and found a cheque for £3B amongst it. Henry Chafles Buck said that accused borrowed a cheque for £3B from him, saying he wanted it in connection with a mortgage. Detective Walsh gave evidence that accused told him his wife, who had been on a holiday at Masterton. had cashed the cheque at the Post Office before she went away. Hearing of the shortage, accused telephoned to hjs wife and learned that she had placed the cheque in the blotting pad. The detective interviewed Mrs Edwards in the presence of witness, and she said that Buck had called al. the Post Office ami cashed the cheque, Ireforo she went. away. Rhe placed it on a blot ting pad and l.orgot ahcmi it, till Edwards telephoned her.