POSTMAN ALLEGEDLY DUMPED FORGOTTEN MAIL IN DOMAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22616, 20 April 1948, Page 6

POSTMAN ALLEGEDLY DUMPED FORGOTTEN MAIL IN DOMAIN

(P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, April 19. Statements that a New Plymouth postman who forgot to deliver part of his mail disposed of it in a nearby domain rather than return over his run were made in the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court this morning by both the police and the defendant’s counsel.

Theft of Money Admitted Appearing before Mr. A. H. Vf oodward S.M.i was Erie Leslie Rudings, aged' 18. He was charged with the theft of a registered packet containing £8 in notes and 15s postal note. He pleaded guilty and the case was adjourned pending the Probation Officer's report. The letter had been sept from Wanganui, said Senior-Detective E. C. Jarrold for the police. It was expected and when it did .not arrive the addressee in New Plymouth made inquiries. The register showed that it had been given to Rudings but, when he was asked, he said he could remember nothing of it. Senior-Detective Jarrold said he had interviewed Rudings on April 15 when Rudings admitted that on his way back from his run he found that he had not delivered the letter. Rather than return, he opened it. took the money and destroyed the postal note. Halt Mail Bag of Packages Subsequent to this information being laid, said Senior Detective Jarrold, a youth in Ruatoki Domain had found a package of undelivered mail. A fur thcr search disclosed 37 letters, 1(1 parcels and a number of newspapers.

filled a mailsack which was exhibited in court Senior-Detective Jarrold said that apparently Rudings had not found the mail until he was past the addresses and then disposed of it rather than return.

"Although he is not charged with this,” the detective said, “I mention it to show that this young man is totally irresponsible.” Detective J-arrold added that Rudings was not a thief in the usual term since none of the parcels, some of which contained valuables, had beer, opened. Could not ho Bothered “As far as I can ascertain when he found this mail, he had overrun the addresses,” said Mr. P. Grey, who appeared for Rudings He was at the bottom of a hill and could not be bothered going back.” Mr. Grey asked that probation be considered. "Unless some cause for this young man's irresponsibility can be given, I hold out little hope for probation.” said Mr. Woodward. liis Majesty s mail must be considered sacred by those concerned with its distribution.” Ho added that if Rudings had been charged with the disposal of the mail he would have been liable to the maxi mum penalty of 14 years.

The discovered mail more than half