THEFT OF PACKAGES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18906, 5 July 1923, Page 8

THEFT OF PACKAGES.

POSTAL EMPLOYEE IN TROUBLE. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. „ (Pas United Press Association.) OURIS'I CHURCH, July 4. At the Police Court to-day Martin Matthew Holland was charged on five counts with the theft of postal packages while he was employed as a postal officer. Detective Bickerdike said that the offences alleged covered a period of five years, commencing when, the accused was at Duvauchelles Post Office and not terminating till the day of his arrest at Darfield. In all 700 letters, telegrams, and other postal packages were stolen in that period Most of the charges related to Darfield. It was difficult to determine how much money had been stolen from the packages. Detective Bickerdike said that on June 23, in company with Mr Broadfoot, Chief Postmaster at Christchurch, he made inquiries at Darfield regarding the missing letters and interviewed’ accused. Accused admitted several offences and made a statement. Witness then arrested him and charged him with the offences. Afterwards ho searched accused’s room and found 683 letters and telegrams, all of which he had detained and some of which he had opened. Accused, in his statement, said he had destroyed two or three nles. He said he had been drinking, but ho did not say he had been in any trouble. Mr Broadfoot said that there - was an impression that a large number of letters had been stolon. That was not the case. Host of - the documents taken wore official departmental correspondence addressed to the postmasters. The theft of ordinary letters was not so great as had been the case on some previous occasions. He made.this statement in, order to leassure the public. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.