THEFT BY POSTMASTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20897, 12 June 1931, Page 13

THEFT BY POSTMASTER

MOUNT EDEN OFFICIAL. SUM OF £6OO INVOLVED. " PARTLY THROUGH GAMBLING." COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. Gambling and a desire to improve his financial position were reasons given by William Richard Holmes, aged 46, ex-post-master at Mount Eden, in the Police Court yesterday, when lie admitted the theft of £6OO, the property of the Government, during the year ended April, 1931. Accused was charged with stealing the money in two suras of £SO, one of £2O, and one of £4BO. He was represented by Mr. Conlan. Richard Edgar Williams, audit inspector for the Post and Telegraph Department, said he went to the Mount Eden post office on May 25, in company with a senior inspector. Accused appeared very disturbed on being introduced to the senior inspector. At the request of witness accused brought the cash to the counter, and witness proceeded to count it. Accused then went to a table some little distance away, and the senior inspector drew witness' attention to accused's actions. Result of the Audit. Witness said they went to the table where accused was, and saw that he had inserted the figure eight in the remittance column of the cash book. The figure had been inserted in the hundreds column in the remittance sent to the chief postmaster on May 23. The remittance actually forwarded on that day was £260, instead of £B6O, as the entry showed. Witness said he made a complete audit of the books and records of the Mount Eden post office, and a deficiency of £6OO was found in tha official cash held by accused* Cross-examined, witness said ha was given every assistance by accused. He would assume that the £4BO was not taken in one sum. The cash book did not disclose when and in what amounts the money was taken. As far as he was aware there were no deposits in the Savings Bank that had not been accounted for, nor was there any evidence of postal packets having been opened. Apart from, the present charges accused been well thought of in the department. Statement by Accused. Detective Snedden said when interviewed accused was very frank and admitted he had misappropriated £6OO from the cash of the Mount Eden post office. He later made a voluntary statement, and gave every possible assistance in clearing up the matter. Dr. S. A. Bull, of Mount Eden, said he had known accused since the end of the war. He had seen liim frequently since he took over the Mount Eden office in 1923, and held him in high regard. Confinement in a closed-in area would be prejudicial to his health, as he was still suffering from the results of a severe gas attack in. the late stages of the war. Evidence as to accused's previous good character was given by three witnesses. Accused, in giving evidence, said he was deeply repentant for what he had done. He said the defalcations arose partly through gambling and partly through a desire to improve his financial position. He had lost his employment, and feared he would also lose about £3OO he had paid toward his superannuation. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed in the sum of £IOOO, self £SOO and two sureties of £250 each.