THEFT OF LETTER

Hawera Star, Volume L, 11 September 1930, Page 6

THEFT OF LETTER

CFEENCE in.mail room.

POSTAL CLERK FLEES

How the Postal Department carefully guards articles committed to its care was shown in evidence in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court yesterday when a postal clerk, aged 24 (Air. Leicester), was charged with stealing a postal packet and its contents.

Detective-Sergeant T. E. Holmes explained that accused had been in ihe employ of the Post and Telegraph Department for ten years. On the uay in question accused was working in the mail room and was noticed to be acting suspiciously in connection with a ' letter. When about to leave the room he was spoken to by one of the supervisors with reference to' his actions and at once tried to run away. A struggle ensued, and accused managed to escape. He went in the direction of Thorn.lon and burnt the letter and its contents in Lamb-ton- Quay, without opening the letter. He appeared to> be a highlystrung young man and hacl not appeared previously before the court. Air. Leicester stated that accused had been suspended and would undoubtedly lose his position in the Post and Telegraph Department. He had lately had a series of misfortunes, and had suffered in consequence from nerve troubles. It was an isolated case, uv-l although serious, counsel thought it might warrant probation. Mr. E. Page, S. AT, admitted the circumstances were somewhat unusual, ancl that it was an isolated case. Although he always looked seriously upon offences committed by postal officers, he would act upon the probation officer’s recommendation and grant probation for 12 months, making it a condition that accused should abstain from gambling during that period.—“ The Dominion.”