REGISTERED LETTER OPENED

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1929, Page 13

REGISTERED LETTER OPENED

JURY ACQUITS OHURA WOMAN.

A plea of not guilty was entered by Cecilia May Wilks, a married woman, to charges heard in the Supreme Court at Hamilton on Tuesday of having unlawfully detained a postal packet at Ohura on March 14, 19'29, and of having stolen £5 5s in money. The jury acquitted her. The Crown solicitor said a Mrs. Coley sent a letter containing £5 5s .to Mrs. Wilkie at Ohura. Mrs. Wilks was handed the letter at the post office, and was asked if it were hers. Mrs. Wilkie opened the letter, and after reading it said it was hers. She retained the money until she was interviewed by a detective. She then made restitution.

Mrs. Trixy Coley, Heretaunga, said that early in March last she posted a registered letter to Mrs. Wilkie, Ohura, enclosing £5 5s in payment for money due. She did not receive an acknowledgment until June. The postmaster at Ohura, Henry Williams, said that the address on the letter in question was badly written and he asked Mrs. Wilks if the letter was here. She signed for it and then onened it, and said it was hers. He saw nothing of the contents. A postal inquiry officer, Douglas Walker, gave evidence that he interviewed Mrs. Wilks on June 6. Slie admitted having received the letter and retained uc immey, us Jic- had reason to believe that the letter was intended for her. Mrs. Wilks said she thought the money was intended as repayment of £5 5s she had given a friend to lend to another person some time before. Mrs. Wilks said she could not decipher the signature, but thought it was from the person who had received the money. Witness said Mrs. Wilks agreed without hesitation to return the money. No evidence was called for the defence. After a short retirement by the jury a verdict of not guilty was returned and Mrs. Wilks was discharged.