MAILBAG STOLEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 8 June 1927, Page 4

MAILBAG STOLEN

BETWEEN CARDIFF AND LONDON

SENSATIONAL ARREST AT

HAMILTON

MAN CHARGED WITH THEFT OF £IO,OOO

(United Preen Association)

HAMILTON, This Day A sensational arrest was made at Claudelands, Hamilton, when Detective Sweeney and Constable Saunders, of Hamilton, acting on a provisional warrant, arrested Joseph Foster, aged 44, on a charge of stealing £IO,OOO, the property of the British Government. Foster, who is described as a traveller, is a win of the late Pastor Foster, who formerly lived at Waihi and Hamilton. Accused's mother is a resident flf Hamilton. Accused formerly lived /at Waihi, but left the dominion over 20 years ago and went to live in England. Foster had been living at'Hamilton for some weeks before he was recognised by Constable Saunders, who knew him as a. bov.

Details of the roubery in connection with which the arrest has been made are that four registered packages containing treasury notes valued at £IO,OOO were among Ihe contents of a mailbag stolen in transit between Cardiff and London on (he evening of 2nd of February. 'The bag, one of a heap of 21, was placed in the mail van of the (rain at Cardiff Station by postal officials. The van was locked and opened for a few minutes only at Newport and Swindon, when other mails were added to the pile. The only other stop between Cardiff and London was at Reading, but no mails were taken on there, and the van was therefore not opened. On the arrival of the train at Paddington, the bag in question was missCabled advice was received in New Zealand on 21st May that Scotland Yard had sent a wireless message, to the captain of a steamer bound for New Zea- ,

land asking tiint to prevent from landing a man alleged to be concerned in the robbery who was travelling to the dominion with his family. It is understood that the man referred to was not on the steamer when it berthed in New Zealand.

ACCUSED REMANDED TO WELLINGTON HAMILTON, This Day. Joseph Foster, 44, married, was charged at Hamilton this morning with the theft of £IO,OOO from a mail van in England on 2nd February, and also with'receiving currency of that amount, knowing it had been illegally obtained. On the application of the police he was remanded to appear at Wellington on 15tn June.