MAIL BAG ROBBERY.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17221, 3 October 1927, Page 7

MAIL BAG ROBBERY.

.ACCUSED IN COURT. REMANDED AT HAMILTON. SUBSTANTIAL BAIL FIXED. SOME FURTHER PARTICULARS. There was a crowded gallery of interested spectators at the Hamilton Court this morning when William Harold Melville Taylor, married, aged 30, made his appearance and was charged with the theft on or about September 3 of a mailbag and its contents, the property of the PostmasterGeneral. Detective Sweeney appeared for the prosecution, and Mr J. F. Strang watched proceedings on behalf of accused, who was arrested on Saturday. A remand until October 12 was sought by Detective Sweeney, and Mr Strang intimated that he would consent to that, asking the Magistrate (Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M.) to consider an application for bail on such security as was thought adequate. He understood, stated Mr Strang, that accused was charged with the theft of-a mailbag and its contents of considerable value, most of which were non-negotiable documents for which payment was immediately stopped when the bag was lost. Counsel had no knowledge of the value of the remainder of the missing bag's contents, but he understood the essence of the case against accused was that he was alleged to have attempted to negotiate two cheques believed to have been in the bag in question. Accused had been in the town a good many years, Mr Strang continued, and was in business as a land agency employee. Detective Sweeney stated that the Official estimate of the bag's contents was about 1000 postal packets, including non-negotiable cheques to the value . of £50,000 or £60,000, which were beA ing forwarded from Auckland banks to this district. In the missing bag were two specific postal packets, one containing a cheque of £lB 8s 4d and the other another cheque for £lO 0s sd, which, stated the detective, accused was seen to pass. That was the evidence he had to offer at present. " Accused is not unknown to us," added Detective Sweeney. The Magistrate: Is he favourably known to you. Detective Sweeney: No, Your Worship. j

" I shall grant bail in a substantial

surety," stated the Magistrate, who fixed bail at £IOOO in £SOO personal and two sureties of £250 each on the special condition that accused reported to the Hamilton police daily at 9 a.m.

Taylor is a married man, 30 years of age. He is well known in the Te Aroha district, where formerly he followed farming pursuits. He adopted a smiling, confident air in Court to-day, and says he is " not worrying as. much as the blink of an eyelid " as to the result of the proceedings. Sufficient bail to secure the release of Tyalor from custody had not been forthcoming at the time of going to press this afternoon.