Sent Indecent Letter Through Post

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 9

Sent Indecent Letter Through Post

LABOURER GETS THREE MONTH.s’ GAOL Three months’ gaol with hard labour is the penalty James Newberry, alias Thomas James, a labourer, aged 54 years, will pay for sending a.* indecent 1 document through the post. He admitted the offence in the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Detective-Sergeant Meiklejohn stated that accused wrote an indecent letter to a respectable young lady in Palmerston North, asking for an appointment. The young woman consulted a solicitor and the police and then drafted a reply which was posted to the address given by accused. An advertisement was also put in “The Times" advising accused that the letter had been posted. The reply made an appointment in the street near her home. When accused arrived on the scene he was detained by a detective in hiding. On the way to the police station he attempted to get away. Mr. Meiklejohn said accused had a fairly long list of previous convictions dating back to 1599 for. forgery and uttering. In Wellington in 1920 he got 5 years gaol for causing bodily harm and 3 years for wounding with intent. He was released on license in 1927, the license running out in 1931. Since then he had not been in trouble. However, accused had been declared an habitual criminal. Accused, in answer to the Magistrate, said he had nothing to say. Mr. J. L. Stout: I don’t think there is anything you could sav. It is a disgusting and revolting letter with no excuse nor extenuating circumstances for writing it.