MAILBAG DRAMA ENDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21332, 5 November 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

MAILBAG DRAMA ENDS

POSTMAN SENT TO PRISON THEFT OF VALUABLES CHEQUES OVER £2OOO WORTH What counsel described as the last act of a mailbag theft drama, which started in January last, was played out at the Old Bailey in September, when Herbert Timhrell Flicker, postman, was sentenced to four years' penal servitude for the theft of the bag. Prosecuting counsel stated that in January a man named Warner was sentenced to three years' penal servitude for aiding and abetting in the theft. Fricker, u G.P.O. postman, took out a bag on November 19, containing registered packages and letters for delivery in the Chancery Lane district. He disappeared that day. On November 20 a bag was found in Charing Cross Station cloakroom, containing a postman's uniform and a quantity of Lorn registered packages. It was discovered that Fricker had gone with the bag to Warner's address in St. Martin's Lane. He was not seen again until July 30, when lie was arrested at Charing Cross. Ho was very violent, and tried to escape, but the police officer was a man of excellent physique, and was able to arrest him. At first ho denied that he was Flicker, but he afterwards admitted his identity, addinir, " 1 plead guilty." Excellent Military Record Counsel went on to state that the mailbag contained £434 worth of jewellery and precious stones, £2431 worth of cheques, £32 in money, £2OO it. stockcertificates, and a mass of probates, patents and other deeds, the loss of which caused the most extraordinary incon"venience. No attempt was made to deal with the cheques. A detective staled that Fricker was born in South Africa, and became a postman in April, 1931. He had served in the Navy and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and had an excellent character while in those services. Before going to the Pose Office ho was a porter at various London hotels and at a London hospital, where he was married. The officer added that he thought some pressure had been brought to bear on Fricker by Warner and others in consequence of the loss of some postal orders. A man was sentenced in connection with this and 'it was thought Fricker had some knowledge of the matter. " Dens of Thieves." Warner was a man Who had had previous convictions. Ho and lwicker and others had all been members of a billiard club which had now closed down. _ _ The Judge: I am glad to hear it is closed. Many of these so-called clubs are nothing but dens of thieves. Defending counsel urged that Warner had got rid of the valuables, and that Fricker's share was only £4O, of which be gave £2O to his wife. He was very hard up at the time, as he was a married man with one child and Ins wages were onlv £2 6s 6d a week. The judge told Fricker lie was liable to a sentence of penal servitude for lite. It was suggested that his wages were insufficient, but postmen's wages were a matter for the Postmaster-General, subject to Parliament. If he had not liked his lob he should have given it up. His duty was to lie honest, but instead of that he was prime mover in a theft which had caused consternation in numerous London offices.