HUSBAND AND WIFE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 2 March 1928, Page 9

HUSBAND AND WIFE

THEFT CHARGES. WOMAN COLLAPSES ON PASSING OF SENTENCE. Ujy TiinjiauAi-s—vniiss association.) WHANGAREI, Feb. 29. William John McKern an and; his' wife, Caroline Lavinia- Maud 1 McKern an, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court at Whangarei to-day on an adjourned charge of theft at the Whakapara Post Orfice of postal notes of a total value or £8 17s 9d, of which 15s 2d had been recovered. It was alleged that notes- for various amounts up to £1 Os 3d had disappeared on different dates in the latter part of January and in the first week of February. * The postmaster was further charged with failing to account for £ls, which had been deposited on January 30 to the credit of Edna Reed’s post office account, and also for a further sum of £5 Is lOd. His wife was charged with receiving stolen p-ostal -notes. Both accused pleaded guilty. The. evidence of an inspector of the P. and; T. Department disclosed that each had admitted the thefts in a statement. Counsel said the postal notes- had been taken by the wife, who was in bad health. McKertmn had at first taken the blame on himself. He should' have looked after the office better, but counsel asked that he be dealt with leniently. Later in the day the magistrate admitted the male accused to three years’ probation on the charge of stealing £5 Is, and sentenced him to six months’ detention for reformative treatment on the charge of stealing £ls. No further sentence was passed on the other charges. In the case of the accused woman, who came in to receive sentenced looking very ill, she was admitted to probation for tree years. The. magistrate was in t-he middle of his remarks when, without • warning, the accused collapsed on .the floor. She was carried out of the court, where attempts to revive lier were made for several minutes, after which a doctor was telephoned for.