POSTAL OFFICER’S LAPSE

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17611, 16 January 1929, Page 7

POSTAL OFFICER’S LAPSE

AFTER 20 YEARS’ SERVICE. TOURED ON VALUELESS CHEQUES. DOMESTIC TROUBLES BLAMED. After 20 years’ honourable service .with the Post, and Telegraph Department at Wellington, a married man named William John Gillies, aged 30, left lhe department and suddenly lapsed into crime. He got a motorcar on a hire-purchase agreement, and leaving his wife and two children in Wellington, made a tour of the North Island, where, at nine different places —lCatikali, Hikutaia, Helensville, Bombay, Takinini, Stratford, Okato, Auckland and Westmere, he issued valueless cheques, chiefly for benzine and board, and received change in return. The total amount involved was £27 15s. In the meantime his wife had sold up the home and had caused a warrant to be Issued for his arrest for desertion.

To-day, before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., at Hamilton, Gillies pleaded guilty to all the charges. 1

Wife issues Warrant. Constable D. H. Sutton read a statement made by accused, in which tie admitted the majority of the offences. He stated that he formerlyworked in the Post Office at Wellington, but decided to try and better himself outside tho service. He bought a boot repairing business in April last and some time later he left Wellington without informing his wife, with whom ho had had some unpleasantness. When he returned to Wellington shortly afterwards, he found that his wife had sold up the home and had gone to reside with his people. She had also authorised the issue of a warrant for his arrest for desertion. Mr. Colin Speight, speaking on accused’s behalf, said that at the time Gillies issued the cheques he had an account at the Bank of New South Wales, Wellington, and 'considered that by the time the cheques were presented he would be in funds. About 12 months ago accused fell off a tramcar and received a severe injury to his head. In April last, after 20 years’ service with the P. and T. Department, he'left the department of his own accord and took over a boot repairing business in "Wellington. He then had about £4OO saved. He had had certain domestic troubles, and following a quarrel with his wife, he left for Taranaki to try and get a partner in his business. When he returned to Wellington, he found that his wife had sold up the home and had gone to live with his people. He then appeared to become reckless and while going about the country trying to get work, he travelled for a time under an assumed name and quite “ went to the pack.” Since his arrest he had become reconciled with his wife. Accused had two children.

Suppression of Name Refused. Counsel mentioned that Gillies spent Christmas in gaol and had had time to think over his' misdeeds. He was anxious to make restitution to the people he had defrauded. Ini view of the good character which accused had borne with the Postal Department and whilst in the Expeditionary Force, Mr. Speight asked His Worship to take a lenient view of accused’s wrongful acts. Addressing accused, His Worship said that if one had only to consider the individual in passing sentence on persons guilty of offences against the law, the matter would be a very much easier one. for the judicature. lhe law however, existed for the protection’ of the public. The offences to which accused had pleaded guilty were very common in New Zealand and His Worship did not think he would be doing his duty if he did not inflict some punishment on accused. He would be sentenced to one month’s Imprisonment on the first charge, and on the others he would be convicted and placed on probation for two years, conditionally on him making restitution and that he abstain absolutely from alcohol during that period. Mr. Speight applied for the suppression of accused’s name, in view of the fact that publication would be likely to inflict pain on his people. His Worship said that if he was to take into consideration lhe wounding of the feelings of accused persons’ families in these.matters, he was afraid he would have to suppress the names of everybody who came before the Court. The publication of the names of persons offending against the law was a very wholesome deterrent against crime. Prisoner in this case was a mature man who must have known the seriousness of his acts. The application was refused.