CLERK IN COURT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23178, 26 October 1938, Page 19

CLERK IN COURT

POST OFFICE THEFTS THREE COUNTRY PREMISES MONEY AND STAMPS TAKEN Nine charges connected with burglaries at three Auckland country post offices were preferred against Arthur Dominic Plunkett, a clerk, aged 3. . who appeared before Mr. .Justice Callan in tho Supremo Court yesterday. There was a further charge of having his possession on September 1, at. Wellington, a quantity of gelignite with intent to commit a crime. Mr .G. S. It. Meredith appeared for tho Crown and Mr. Ackins represented accused. Accused was charged with breaking and entering the post office at Ohinewai on or about '.June 28 and stealing a cash-box, £0 15s 3Jd in money, £°7 Is IJd in stamps and stationery, a "total of £37 10s 5< I; breaking and entering the post office at Albany on August 23 and stealing £35 7s lju j„ money, a cash-box, stationery and stamps, a total of £6t 5s 7Jd; breaking and entering the post, office at, Hinuora on or about July 14 and stealing £ls 2s (3d in cash, and stamps and stationery, the total value being £BO 18s lOd. In each case alternative charges of theft and of receiving money and goods which ho knew to bo dishonestly obtained were preferred. Sheet o! Stamps Identified

Norma Faith Ridgley, postmistress at Ohinewai, described the theft of monov, stamps and other articles from her office. From figures in her own handwriting she identified a sheet of Australian penny stamps produced by the Crown as belonging to her office and said that other stamps produced were similar to those she had in stock.

Eileen Heath Yiggcrs, postmistress at Hinuera, also gave evidence of thefts from her office.

Douglas Anderson, postmaster at Albany, described thefts from his office and identified a cash-bos produced as belonging there. Many nets of stamps produced were, lie snid, similar to sets missing from his office. Claude Montague Francis, police photographer and finger-print expert, said ho examined the post office at Ohinewai on .lime 28 and found tho safe had been blown open by explosives. On the floor were scattered pieces of gelignite and burned blue fuse. On August 2.'s witness examined the Albany post office, where the safe had also been blown open and pieces of gelignite and fuse were on tho floor.

Cash-box Found in Trough About 200 yds from the post office, in the water of the horse-trough in tho public pound, witness said, ho found n cash-box (produced) and 4s Bsd in pennies. Kenneth Massev Griffen, Government analyst at Auckland, said ho had received from the police a pair of sandshoes, a pair of trousers and a coat, as well as a box of clay taken from Albany. An examination showed that clay adhering to tho shoes and trousers was exactly similar in chemical analysis, physical proportions and in microscopic appearance, to tho clay in the box. Both samples contained a very minute fossil which was very rare in clay. To Mr. Aekins, witness admitted that such clay might be found in other parts of Xew Zealand, but ho thought it improbable. Detective Hay, of Wellington, said lie interviewed accused on the Wanganella at Wellington on September 1. Accused admitted selling stamps at a Wellington post office saying that he had received them in payment for a debt Stamps in Suitcase Later at the Wellington detective office, witness said, accused pointed to onn of his two suitcases saying, "If you look in there you will find what you want." In the case were revenue and employment stamps to the value of £76 4.s 4Jd, The stamps comprised those which had been put in as evidence that day. Witness also found fuse and gelignite in accused's possession. Accused said he received the gelignite and fuse from the man from whom lie received the stamps, witness added. That man was not a thief but the man who had originally stolen them was then "doing time." The Jury's Verdict

Similar evidence was given by Detective Long, of Wellington, who interviewed accused in company with the previous witness. Witness produced a pair of shoes, a coat and a pair of trousers, found in accused's possession. The shoes were covered in clay. He had forwarded these effects to the police at Auckland. This completed the case for the prosecution. Mr. Aekins called no evidence but accused made a brief statement from the dock in which ho denied bis guilt. After a long retirement, the jury brought, in a verdict of guilty on the three theft charges, but found accused not guilty of breaking and entering or of receiving. A verdict of not guilty was also returned in regard to the charge involving the unlawful possession of gelignite. Accused was remanded for sentence.