MAIL THEFTS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18419, 27 June 1925, Page 10

MAIL THEFTS.

SOLICITOR'S FORTUNE FROM STOLEN SECURITIES. 'BT CABLE—FBESS ASSOCIA7IOK—COPYRIGHT.) f*?S72II.IA» AND S Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON. Juno 2-5. "The Court is satisfied that you. A3 an experienced solicitor of the- High Court, for years have been associated with a gang of daring and dangerous thieves frnd mail-bag robbers,"' said Air Justice Salter at the Old Bailey. in sentencing to three years' imprisonment Charles Sharman, aged 70, a.' well-known London solicitor, who pleaded, guilty to charges of forgery and conspiracy to steal and receive the contents of mail-bags. "The robbers," ,said Mr Justice Saltor, ''acquired a mass of valuable securities which would have been of little uso without your assistance in disposing of the booty. You sold them all over Europe and America in false names, not hesitating at forgery when necessary. I am told that you have been continuously and heavily blackmailed, but thieves often blackmail one another." It was urged in mitigation that accused was largelv responsible for the recovery of £90.000 wbrtli of bonds* from, Antwerp.

The "Dailv Express" that Sharman had one of the largest practices of*criminal cases in London. He was the solicitor for the defence in many notable triuJs, and a prominent churchman and office-bearer. Many local authorities believe that Sharman received over £2O,GCO as 6haio of the thefts, which commenced in 1921. The- actual value of the securities stolen was hundreds of thousands, but many were unrealisable. During the early investigations Sharman visited the Post Office authorities and said that he had learned that a foreigner who was his exact double was cashing stolen securities on the Continent. Ho was cordially thanked and no breath of suspicion rested on him.