HECTIC HOLIDAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22985, 12 March 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

HECTIC HOLIDAY

POSTMAN'S MASQUERADE POSED AS WEALTHY J.P. THEFT OF REGISTERED LETTERS His cloak of masquorndo having boon torn away, an English postman, who figured in some amazing adventures, is now serving a term in gaol. Ho abandoned a Post Office van aftor stealing registered letters, and with the procoeds had a brief, hectic time, during which ho posed as a justice of tho peaco paying income tax on £70,000 a year; styled himself "Major Duncan Augustus Carr, D.5.0."; said he was a Post Office inspector earning £33 ft week; and stayed at nuclist and holiday camps. Most of tho activities of tho sentenced man, Frederick William Augustus Mayes, aged 43, doncribed as a postman, of Ipswich, Suffolk, were centred in tho Isle of Wight, where he flitted about tho nudist and holiday camp colonies. On the island ho made out that ho was a widower, although ho already had a wifo from whom lie was separated. Cause of Downfall Mnyes met a Miss Masters, who was on holiday in tho Islo of Wight. Ho proposed marriage to Miss Masters and later borrowed aboijt £34 from her and her father. When he was at her homo arrangements wero made for tho publishing of tho banns. Then came an incident that brought about the downfall of Mayes and led to his appearance in tho dock at Suffolk Assizes, Ipswich. After returning to England, Mayes was driving Miss Masters 1o his supposed home at Sale: He was at the wheel of the car hn had bought with tho proceeds of the rnailvan robbery. At Altrincham, near Manchester, tho car collided with a brick wall. Mayes ami Miss Masters wero injured. Both were removed to hospital, and there Mayes was recognised as tho "wanted" postman. Mayes was sentenced at the Assizes to 15 months' imprisonment, after a plea had been made on his behalf "that he. gave way to a temptation of which ho had never been conscious before." In couft it was revealed that Mayes took out the mail van, and later absconded with £'ll4 taken from six registered letters. He hired o, car and went to Colchester. Next he crossed to the isle of Wight and embarked on his career of masquerade. Great Imagination "A tridy extraordinary career," commented Mr. Maxwell Turner, prosecuting, "considering the man had been earning only £4 7s lid a week." Light on the domestic affairs of Mayes was thrown by Detective Cobb, of Ipswich Tho officer told the court that Mayes was married in 1013, but after tho death of their child ho and his wife separated. The officer revealed that Mayes had also posed as a Secret Sendee man; Inspector of special constabulary} and Commandant of tho St. John Atnbulunco Brigade. He had further stated that he was on tho Headquarters Staff during the war.