A NEGLIGENT YOUTH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19240, 2 August 1924, Page 7

A NEGLIGENT YOUTH.

CARELESS HANDLING OF CORRESPONDENCE. Amongst the cases brought before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., at the City Police Court yesterday morning, was one in which Clarence Albert Varcoe, was charged with having, about April 11 last, wilfully kept a postal packet which ought to have been delivered to Archibald Morrison. There was a second charge of a precisely similar nature by the same complainant, the offence having been, it was alleged, committed on April 23. Chief-detective Lewie, who conducted the prosecution for the police, said that accused had been in the employ of Mr Morrison, and although only charged with those two offences, a large quantity of correspondence had been held un. He (the chief detective) suggested that the two charges he taken together, and that course was agreed to. Archibald Morrison stated that he was a brassfoumler, and carried on business in Moray place. The accused had been- in his employ from December, 1921, to May, 1924. Ho had to attend to the correspondence—-to receive it and post it. Witness did not discover any irregularities until the beginning of this year, and he had a conversation with accused concerning these irregularities. Witness told accused that ho was in touch with the Post Office authorities concerning these matters. Ho instructed accused not to post a.ny more correspondence at Moray place, as ho considered the trouble was there. Witness discharged accused because he absented himself from work too frequently. After accused had been discharged some correspondence was brought under witness’s notice by an employee. Several letters had been delivered by the postman which had not been handed on to witness. There were also several bundles of circulars which should have been delivered to various firms. There wore also 32 stamped documents that should have boon posted. Ernest Frederick Hancock, employed by Mr Morrison as brass finisher, said he knew the office coat accused had worn while at the office. After accused had left Mr Morrison’s employ a bundle of circulars fell out of the coat pockets. Ho found a box containing corrospondonee in a store room. Ho handed it over to Mr Morrison. James Ross, postman, deposed that he know accused when ho was with Mr Morrison and handed correspondence to him on several occasions. Sometimes it'was left in the office. AA’itncss issued a docket for a registered letter delivered to A. Morrison and Co., Moray place, and receipted by C. A. Varcoe, for Morrosin and Co. AVitnosa produced a registered letter,’ AVellin.gton, the number of which corresponded with the receipt produced. Leslie Falconer Smith, clerk in the Chief Poet Office, Dunedin, produced a registered letter receipt by permission of the Chief Post Master Detective Royoroft said ho interviewed the accused who made the statement produced. The effect of this statement was that accused had been employed by Mr Morrison as salesman. Ho generally worked about tho shop and office. The postman generally handed the mail matter over to him, and lie won hi sometimes put it in his pocket and forgot it. He hail on one occasion a quantity of mail matter in his possession. Ho was afraid to say anything to Mr Morrison about the matter. He did not examine the mail ami could not say to whom letters were addressed. Sometimes ho forgot all about posting mail matter, and he vvaa afraid to report the matter to Mr Morrison. So far as ho could recollect one letter referred to was burnt AA ; hen ho loft Mr Morrison’s employ six weeks ago he forgot about the letters ho had left. He had no intention of stealing. Witness received certain correspondence from Mr Morrison. Accused, whoso age was 23 years, pleaded guilty, and wa.s committed for sentence on both charges, bail being allowed accused in bis own recognisance of £SO, and one surety of £SO. The acting Probation Officer (the Rev. Mr Moretoo) mentioned that accused had been* spending money rather freely. Ho belonged to a very respectable family.