YOUNG MAN'S FRAUD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21615, 6 October 1933, Page 12

YOUNG MAN'S FRAUD

, ORDER FOB A RING REGISTERED LETTER POSTED STATED TO CONTAIN MONEY 4 [my tei.egrapii—own correspondent] WHANG AT? EI. Thursday A farm worker, Percy Charley Bradford, pleaded guilty in tho Whangaroi Police Court to-day to a charge that on September 12 at Whangaroi ho did fraudulently state that lie posted a registered postal packet addressed to an Auckland firm containing £l4 in money, whereas in fact ho posted tho registered letter, and the said lcttor contained au enclosure of less value than £l4. William Caljcr Robson, accountant for tho Auckland firm, stated ho received a registered letter on September 11 ffpm accused, and when ho opened it, found that the contents.were a plain sheet of paper and a ring size-card. A letter stated thero was £l4 enclosed in notes for the purchase of an engagement ring according to the size-card. Wi tuess telegraphed and wroto to accused pointing out that tho money was not enclosed. On September 14 witness received a letter from accused in answer to tho telegram, stating that £l4 was enclosed when tho letter left Whangaroi. Upon receipt of accused's Jotter, witness thought tho matter of sufficient seriousness to cousult the Post and Telegraph Department, which ho did. Witness also consulted a bank manager, who was quito satisfied that tho notes could not havo been enclosed in tho letter \yithout leaving an impression on tho date stamp and tho envelopo. The envelope showed no signs of having been tampered with. Witness' firm had not sent tho ring to accused. Alfred Pellow, postmaster at Whangaroi, detailed the precautions taken in handling registered mail. Ho said it was the duty of officers to see that all registered matter was in apparent good order. Witness examined this envelope and found no signs of it having been tampered with, excepting slit at tho top as described as having been dono- by the previous witness when ho opened tho mail. Leslie Edward Morton Bennett stated he had employed accused during tho past four yoars and was paying him 25s a .week. Accused told him a few months ago of keeping company with a young woman and stated he expected to become engaged shortly. Accused was inclined to romance, however, and witness did not take particular notice of his statements in this direction. Accused gave witness notice, to take effect from September 30, to accept a position at Thames. "I am quite prepared to employ this young man again at any time, and I cannot understand him making this foolish mistake," said witness. "I have great faith in him, and am absolutely satisfied with him as a workman. Any money required in this chnrgo could bo met by deductions from his wages." Dctcetive-Sergoant J. K. Robertson, in evidence, stated ho interviewed accused on September 19, and accused said he had registered tho lotter himself and put in two £5 and four £1 notes. Ho said ho had posted other letters on that dato and would search in caso the money may havo been put in one of the other letters or was still in his possession. Witness rocoivcd a telephone message tho following day from accused, who said he had found tho money in other clothes* Witness interviewed accused again on September 27 and he gave a statement accordingly. Witness asked to see the money, and accused then admitted that he had' had no money nnd had mado a false statement. He said he had no idea why he had sent tho letter and had not expected to receive the ring from the firm. Accused' was committed to tho Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence.