THE LATE POST OFFICE ROBBERY AT DUNEDIN.

Evening Post, Issue 55, 12 April 1865, Page 2

THE LATE POST OFFICE ROBBERY AT DUNEDIN.

Charles Pearson Fox was charged, on the information of Archibald Barr, Chief Postmaster, Dunedin, with stealing, between nine p.m. on the 18th, and nine a.m. on the 20th December, 1864, the sum of £440 from the Post Office, Dunedin. Mr. Henry Howorth appeared to prosecute for the Crown, and asked that the prisoner should be remanded, in order to enable him to get the evidence together in as clear a way as possible. The prisoner was only arrested on the previous evening, and his Worship would see that it was almost impossible for him to get up a case of this sort in such a short time. Mr. Prendergast appeared for the prisoner, and resisted the application for a remand. He said the prisoner had been arrested for an offence alleged to have been committed three months ago, and during all that time the prisoner had been acting as a clerk in the Post Office. During last week he was questioned by the Postmaster and the Crown Prosecutor, and answered all the questions put to him. On Monday, the prisoner came to him for advice, and he (Mr, Prendergast) advised him not to remain in the Post Office under suspicion, but to ask Mr. Barr to suspend him if he was suspected. Mr. Barr answered that he would take advice on the subject, and the result was that information was laid, and the prisoner was taken to the lock-up. He (Mr. Prendergast) could hardly think that this was a proper application for a remand when the prosecutor had had three months to get up the evidence. If there was anything in the charge the evidence must have been accumulating during that time, and there must be something shown for keeping the prisoner in custody. The Magistrate said it did not follow that this young man was suspected during the whole three months Mr. Howorth said suspicion did not attach to him three months ago. Mr. Prendergast thought that in a case of this nature something like a foundation for the charge should be laid before a remand was asked for. Mr. Howorth could do so if he wished, but it must result in an adjournment. The Magistrate did not think the request an unreasonable one, considering all the circumstances, although he was opposed to keeping any man in custody without sufficient grounds being shown. He would remand the prisoner for a day, but would admit him to bail — himself in £300, and two sureties in £150 each. The prisoner was remanded till two o'clock next day.— Otago Daily Times.