“A SORRY MESS”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10811, 29 January 1921, Page 6

“A SORRY MESS”

POSTAL OFFICER’S LAPSE ON THE EVE OF SUPERANNUATION. A “PITIABEE CASE.” PIB PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRXSTCHURGH, January 28. ‘ ‘Every person in tiie and Telegraph Department is in a position of trust and under great responsibility. The public would not hare faith in our public institutions if persons who stole letters were free to do that, sort of thing witaliout punishment.” _ These remarks were made by Mr Justice Herdman in the Supreme Chart to-day, in sentencing Adam Morrison Rattray, a postal employee, to three month’s imprisonment with hard labour for the theft of a letter containing £5. In extenuation, Mr O. T. J. Alpers submitted that Hattray had been already punished by a heavy monetary loss. In three years he was to retire from the service with & pension of £215 per annum ; but he had been dismissed from the service and had made a. sorry mess of his otherwise unblemished career. Prisoner had been a volunteer officer in Csurteibury for 25 years; he received a salary of £320 per year, and was under no financial stress. He was occasioiKully addicted to drink, and in cue of his “bursts” he yielded to steal a letter which he knew contained £5. His Honour in • sentencing the prisoner said the case was a pitiable one, and he would extend the benefits of the Probation Act to Rattray if he could, but his agje and service reoorf would be taken into account.