MONEY TAKEN FROM MAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20987, 25 September 1931, Page 12

MONEY TAKEN FROM MAIL.

fifteen charges admitted. POSTAL EMPLOYEE'S OFFENCES. | liV TELECH.U'H. —OWN f <">T!HKSI'OSUKNT. ] NKW PLYMOUTH. Tliumhiy. fifteen <"■]»« i of theft f rom loiters were admitted l>v Ronald Uancock, an employee. of the Patea post office, who appeared before justices in the Patea Police Court this week, lie was committed to the Wellington Supreme Court for sentence ft Was stated that complaints were received In' the postmaster at I'atea that letters mnt-im■ i 1 money, posted at Manutahi, Hurlevville. Alton. Kakaramea and Opaku, and which passed through the Patea office in the first stage of transmission. had not boon received by the addressees. As a result of investigations by the police Hancock was arrested on September 15. In a statement to the police on the day of his arrest Hancock who was 23 years of age, married, with one, child, said he was heavily in debt and at tin- beginning of May bis creditors had begun to press him for payment, lie had tried to raise, money, but being unable to do so. he had commenced taking and opening letters. The money he removed from the letters amounted to £72, of which a cheque for £26 and postal notes to the value of 6s 6d bad been destroyed by accused. He had been in the employ of the department for seven years.