UNUSUAL THEFT CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19626, 3 May 1927, Page 11

UNUSUAL THEFT CASE.

POSTMISTRESS IN COURT. BROTHER'S SAVINGS TAKEN. COMMENT BY THE JUDGE. [BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT, j DUNEDir?, Monday. A young woman, Johann Galbraith, a postal official, appeared before Mr. Justice Reed in the Supreme Court this morning for sentence on three charges of theft. Mr. W, L. Moore, on behalf of accused, said she had taken £6O from her brother's post office savings bank account and had used it to repay the other money which she had taken. She had b 4 een in charge of the post office at Dunback. A brother of the prisoner stated that he did not intend to make any claim for restitution of the £6O taken from his account and ho had signed a statement to that effect. His Honor: It seems pretty hard on you to lose your savings. Is there any chance of your getting something back when they are able ? Witness: No doubt, they will give it to me when they are able. A clerk from the post office gave evidence that the matter had been adjusted as stated by the brother. Addressing tho prisoner the Judge* pointed that she must have known that, as a servant of tho department for a length of time, it was a very serious matter to meddle with money- in her chargo. Had the circumstances not been so unusual he should have had no hesitation in sending her to prison, because these cases of stealing from post offices were far too serious to be treated in any way leniently. Owing to the particular circumstances he proposed to extend leniency. Prisoner was admitted to probation for a term of two years.