BREACHES OF THE POST OFFICE ACT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8054, 5 July 1904, Page 3

BREACHES OF THE POST OFFICE ACT.

CHARGES OF THEFT,

At the Rangiora Magistrate's Court t<his morning, before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., and Mr E. R. Good, J.P., Francis Potter, ex-postmaster . d% Ashley, was charged, on two informations with having on March and April last stolen the sums of £3 and £4 from registered letters addressed to Misa Annie Johnson, Ashley. Mr Stringer conducted the prosecution.

Robert Johnson gave evidence that on March 16 he posted a registered letter to his sister Annie, Ashley, containing £3 ; and one in the middle of April containing £4. ' " ' ' '

. Richard B. Morris, chief clerk at the Christchurch Post Office, stated that accused was sub-postmaster at Ashley. Letter bills produced showed that the registered letters . had been forwarded to Ashky, but receipts had not 'beeri returned by accused. Tie bills produced bore accused's signature as ha.ving received them. -Accused 'had been employed since August 16, 1897, and received. a salary of £28 per year, with £4 additional for carrying the mails to and from the railway Nation. Annie Johnson gave evidence that she did not receive the letters containing the money. Joseph. Johnson, labourer, Ashley, stated that on tihe evening of June 26 accused 1 gave him two letters and a cheque for £7. He said " Don't mention it to anybody." The letters were addressed, to his sister Annie. They had been opened. He subsequently handed the cheque to Detective Ward. Detective Ward stated that he arrested accused on June 27, on the present charge. He said foe paid the money back last night, and that ho had taken it from the letters, and hoped to have paid it back sooner than he did. „ After . the usual caution accused pleaded guilty to each charge, and was committed, to the Supreme Court for sentence. Accused was further, -charged that he did, between January 25, 1904, and! May 5, 1904, at Ashley, steal <a post packet containing £1 4s. Thomas Morris, secretary to tie Charitable Aid Board, stated fchat on January 25 he forwarded a registered letter to one James Vallins, of Ashley, containing a £1 note and 4s in. postal notes. Richard B. Morris stated that the letter bill produced showed that accused received a 1-egigtered letter for Vallins. Witness received a receipt for same from accused. James Vallins, Ashley, stated that he was in receipt of charitable; aid. He was also receiving an old age pension. He did not receive any money from the Charitable Aid : Board since January 1. The signature on j the receipt produced for the registered let- j ter waa his. Accused got him to sign it wjien 'he paid him his pension. Detective Ward gave evidence that accused told him that he opened Vallin's letters, and used the money. He said He , sent the postal notes to Mr Weston. solicitor, and got. Vailing to sign the receipt when he paid him hi 9 old. age pension money. . \ Accused pleaded guilty to the charge, and was committed to the Supreme Court ' for sentence. ' ;

Accused was further charged with having, on various dates in 1904, wilfully delayed and detained certain postal packets. A list was produced of the names and addresses of over fifty letters found detained in the Post Office. '.

Detective Ward stated that oh June 27 he searched the premises of accused, at Ashley, and found a number of letters addressed to different people. Accused said the letters had been handed to him at different times. Postage had been paid on some, but he had neglected to stamp and post them. Witness afterwards handed the letters to Mr Morris. Accused said he had been worried with other matters. The letters were all in a small box together. Richard B. Morris staled that he received the tetters from Detective Ward. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentenco.