Dannevirke Postal Official in Trouble

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 July 1935, Page 7

Dannevirke Postal Official in Trouble

WRONG POSTAL MARK ON LETTER SEQUEL TO ALL BLACK SELECTION (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DANNEVIRKE, July 11. Arising out of a competition eonducted in Wellington in connection with picking the All Blacks for the English tour, Albert Frederick Patter-

son, of Dannevirke, a postman, admitted a charge in the Magistrate's Court. to-day that, -with intent to defraud by false pretences, he did attempt to obtain from Harold Edward Taylor, the promoter of the competition. £SO. A statement by the police showed that the names of the team were sent out by wireless on Saturday and Sunday evenings, June 15 and 16\ The letters containing the selection of players were to bear a postmark dated not later than June 15 at 0 p.m. On June 18, 1935, a letter sent forward purporting to come from U. J. Noble, hairdresser, Dannevirke, was received at Wellington, being the first correct list supplied, ft bore a Dannevirke Post Office date stamp of June 15 and the time 0 p.m.

A departmental inquiry disclosed that the date stamp time was one not officially recorded at the Dannevirke Post Office, as no mails leaving at that hour left on June 15. In the mail room reference had been made to what an easy matter It would' be to date stamp a letter June 15 and forward it after the result of the AM Blacks' selection came to h:ind. Accused made out an entry in Noble's rame and after having forwarded the letter told NobJe what he had done.

Accuse! was admitted to probation for 12 months, the Magistrate remarking that the consequences might have been more serious had the money been obtained. Suppression of accused's name was refused.