Charge Against a Fost Office Official.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 242, 15 April 1897, Page 2

Charge Against a Fost Office Official.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, April 14. At tbe Magistrate's Court William Gillespie, clerk of the postal department, Palmerston North, and formerly of Masterton, was charged that on 'June 20, 1896, at Masterton, he forged a request for £100 on the post office savings bank, on June 25th he forged a receipt for £100, on December 3rd he forced a request for £15, on December 12th he forged a receipt for £15, Frank Price, laborer, deposed that in February he got a new 'book for his account in tbe savings bank, accused stating the former book was lost or burned. There was a large difference respecting tbe amount which should have been to his credit in his new book. Witness called the attention of the department to the discrepancy iv the fresh book supplied. Wm. Morris, senior clerk of the accountant's office, General Post office, deposed that on a complaint from Price being made, he went to Palmerston Nortb and saw Gillespie, accusing him of forging Price's name. Accused practically admitted the offence and asked what he should do. Witness urged he should make "a clean breast of it," Accused wrote a letter to the Department, staving tbe temptation in view of his being pushed by creditors was overwhelming, but be intended to repay it. A large amount had been repaid and be intended to repay £80, the balance, Accused reserved his defence and was cornmibted for trial, bail being allowed, himself in £100 and t wo surities of 150 ,