POSTAL THEFTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18877, 22 February 1933, Page 8

POSTAL THEFTS.

YOUNG MAN’S LAPSE.

GAOL FOR SHORT TERM. Having pleaded guilty to fourteen charges of stealing various articles from postal packages, a young mail carrier named William Henry Matthew llavord Donovan was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by Mr Justice Smith in the Supreme Court, Hamilton, 'this afternoon. For the prisoner, Mr W. Noble explained that Donovan was 25 years of age and was married with one child. Prior to the present series of offences he had borne an excellent character, although he had not been given much of a chance in life. In fact, it said much for him that lie had never before been in trouble. Mr Noble emphasised that the prisoner was not a postal employee, but was only employed by a mail contractor. He bad removed the packages from pigeon-holes in the Frankton post olliee. Counsel submitted to His Honour that the ease was a fit one for probation. “There are fourteen charges of theft against you extending from October lo January,” observed His Honour lo the prisoner. “With such a series of offences I am not prepare 1 to extend probation lo you. Under Hi 13 circumstances I must impose a term of imprisonment as a deterrent and to indicate that the Court regards seriously offences in which the mail is in t ere fered with, even though yours is a first- offence. ’’ Donovan was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent.