SECRECY OF TELEPHONES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18380, 21 April 1923, Page 14

SECRECY OF TELEPHONES.

AN OPERATOR CHARGED.

UNUSUAL LONDON CASE-

-Alfred George Spiers, a post office servant, was - summoned at the Mansion House in London recently, before Sir William Treloar, for unlawfully between December 8 and February 12, disclosing, contrary to his duty, the contents of. a telephone message entrusted to the Postmaster-General for transmission. Mr. Pearce, assistant solicitor to the Post Office, prosecuted, and said it was an important case, for.it was considered by the Postmaster-General essential that the implicit confidence of the public in the secrecy of telephone and telegraph messages should not be disturbed. Post Office employees made a declaration of secrecy when they entered the services of the department. There were two charges against defendant. On December*B the Woolwich police were in communication with the Maidstone force, in. connection with a robbery from the "Handcuff King." " . , The defendant overheard the. conversation, and then telephoned it, it was alleged, to the office of the Daily Express as interesting news. The Daily Express made inquiries, and very properly refused to take it. In fact, they communicated their suspicions to Scotland Yard. The result was that a test of two bogus messages was sent through the defendant. A caller at Sheerness wanted to communicate with Stevenage. The defendant overheard the story of a motor-car being found in the River , Medway in which were the bodies of a middle-aged man and a young girl from' Stevenage, clasped in each other's arms. The whole message wis fictitious.

The defendant, on his way home, added Mr. Pearce, telephoned it to the Daily Mail, .but they made inquiries, and did not use it. These proceedings were then instituted. Sir William Treloar committed the defendant lor trial, and admitted him to bail. N -