A PECULIAR CASE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16433, 29 January 1919, Page 6

A PECULIAR CASE.

AFTER-EFFECTS OF INFLUENZA

(PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, January 28. One of tlie peculiar effects of influenza came before the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court this morning.

Counsel for a young woman who had pleaded guilty to a charge that she had wrongiy opened postal packets (which she had then failed to forward.), when she was temporaiy postmistress in a country district, explained that the girl was cf a higliiy respectable country family. She had no black marie against her. There was no accountable reason why she had opened the postal packets, for she had not taken out money or anything else of material value. There was no suggestion by anybody that she wished to injure anyone by delaying or stopping the delivery of postal matter to any particular address. Tho only feasiblo explanation was that influenza, from which she had suffered, had temporarily affected her, for prior to this illness her work had been satisfactory.

Medical evidence supported this view—th.it the girl's conduct was eccentricity rather than crime. His Honour said ho recognised that it was not an ordinary case. There had been evidently no criminal intent, but he thought that the Crown, which had been put to some expense in tho matter, should be recompensed. H e therefore imnoscd a line of £10.