POSTAL THEFTS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 936, 5 December 1933, Page 8

POSTAL THEFTS.

New Brighton Offences Admitted. POSTMAN IN COURT. A postman at New Brighton. Herbert Frederick Smith, aged twenty-four years, residing in Richmond Terrace, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court this morning to six charges of thefts of postal packets and one of wilfully delaying a packet, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. He was represented by Mr Russell. Chief-Detective Dunlop said that the offences were spread over some months, but when interviewed by the police Smith had been quite frank over the whole matter. The charges were:—Stealing a postal packet, containing a postal note for ISs 4d. the property of the New Zealand Government; wilfully delaying a postal packet addressed to C. S. Thomas, the property of the Post-master-General ; stealing a postal packet addressed to the Farmers’ Trading Co., Ltd., Auckland, and containing 10s in money; stealing a postal packet addressed to C. T. Middleton, New Brighton Borough Council, and containing 10s; stealing a postal packet addressed to L. B. Cooper, Wai-iti Street, containing £1; stealing a postal packet addressed to Messrs Archbold Bros, containing £1; and stealing a postal packet addressed to Miss Preston and containing £1 banknote and a postal note for ss. On a further charge of stealing a postal packet addressed to J. Papps. Sydenham, containing a postal note for 10s, no evidence was offered and the case was dismissed: Formal evidence of the complaints concerning the missing letters was given by Everett Jack, inquiry officer attached to the Christchurch Post Office. To Help Police. The evidence was admitted by Mr Russell, who stated that otherwise evidence would require to be called from all parts of New Zealand and entail needless expense. Smith wished tu meet the police in everv possible wav. The Magistrate, Mr E. D. Mosley, and the chief-detective both expressed appreciation of counsel’s action. Detective E. Thomas gave evidence of interviewing Smith, who admitted stealing the letters containing money. Smith stated that he had not taken more than a dozen letters and the total amount he received would be about £5 or £6. He had been employed by the department for nine and a half years and was abie to tell from experience whether or not a letter contained money. His salary was £204 a year. lie did not drink or gamble. Bail was allowed Smith in his own recognisance of £25, the police not opposing the application.