OPENING POSTAL PACKETS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1963, 10 April 1919, Page 3

OPENING POSTAL PACKETS.

POSTMISTRESS IN TROUBLE,

A young woman named Mary Josephine Leo, postmistress at Apiti, appeared before Mr E. Page, S.M., at the Palmerston Magistrate’s Court yesterday, charged with opening two postal packets, one on March 4th, and the other on March 25th, addressed to Mr Ritchie Stewart.

Detective-Sergeant Quirke conducted the case for the police, and Mr Ongley appeared for accused. Detective-Sergeant Quirke stated, in regard to the charge, that in consequence of complaints received of certain letters being tampered with at the Apiti Post Office, he interviewed accused, who admitted the offences. There was no suggestion of dishonesty in the matter, and it had apparently been done in a meddlesome manner.

Detective-Sergeant Quirke stated that lie interviewed the accused at Apiti, when ho produced six letters which had been allegedly interfered with. Accused at first denied tampering with any of them, but afterwards admitted that she had opened two of them. Witness then read a statement from accused, in which she slated that she only opened the letters out of curiosity, and not with any .dishonest intent.

Accused, who pleaded guilty,.was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence.

On the application of Mr Ongleyp and with the consent of the police, bail in accused’s own bond, was granted in one surety of £SO.