BREACH OF POSTAL ACT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12064, 20 July 1917, Page 8

BREACH OF POSTAL ACT.

UNUSUAL f'ASK AT METHYEN. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR. SENTENCE. At the Rakaia Magistrate's Court! yesterday, before Mr T. A. Blackley, J.P.. and Mr C. Tucker. J.J'., Patrick .Brick, farmer, of Mitcham. was charged under the Post, and Telegraph Act with making a- false declaration regarding the posting of valuables. Acting-Chief Detective M'llveney conducted the ease for the prosecution. Albert George Seelen. postmaster atMet.hven, gave evidence that on May 2i the accused complained that he had posted a letter to the "Receiver of Land Revenue at Christ-church, and it had not reached its destination. He stated that it. contained three twenty-pound notes and fifteen shillings worth of penny stamps, and that it was posted at Methven on January 20. Tho accused .signed the customary form, which contained a warning notice that it was an offence to make a false notice. Thomas Harrison, farmer at Waimnrama. near Methven, said that- tho accused had done ploughing for him. On November 21 he handed the accused a cheque for £65, and on January 15 one for £33 or (kl. Tie bad not paid him a. cheque for £<v> in .fannary. G. ~\V. Palmer, Receiver of Land Revenue, said that the accused leased a, Government- farm at 'Mitcham, the half-yearly lent being £OO 18s -Id. Up to January accused had paid promptly, but nothing w;h received in January. On March f> witness -seni out a notice that the rent had not been paid, lie received a reply dated April 1. lie had rot received the money as alleged and lie wrote asking accused to make inquiries. In reply he received a letter dated June 8.

Detective-Sergeant Gibson said that on June 8 lie interviewed the accused at Aritcham and asked for particulars of the monev letter. He said that it contained three twenty-pound notes, which lie had got bv cashing a. cheofuo for ITS') received from Harrison during January. He did not remember where he bought the stamps. Accused was shown the two cheques, and then confessed that he had never sent the money. He was hard up at the time, and thought that by making a complaint- lie would get moro time. The accused pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence at the next sifting of the .Supreme Court.