TEN THOUSAND POUNDS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3683, 27 August 1927, Page 3

TEN THOUSAND POUNDS.

A MISSING MAILBAG. MAN ARRESTED IN HAMILTON TO BE EXTRADITED. Wellington, August 25. Joseph Foster, aged 44, a traveller, who was recently arrested at Hamilton, appeared at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, charged on eight counts of stealing or receiving a mailbag containing £IO,OOO in currency, or portion thereof, from mailbags in transit from Cardiff to London on February 2, last. Mr. H. L. Macassey, for the Crown, produced depositions in support of an application for extradition. Mr. T. M. Wilford, for the accused, consented to the application, remarking that the defence open to Foster was only available in England. He did not admit guilt or that lie had anything to do with the charge, but would be able to clear himself. Depositions were read showing that accused was practically penniless on the day prior to the robbery, that he was on the train near the guards’ van in which the packages were, and that on the day following the robbery he opened an account with Barclay’s Bank, London, paying in £IOOO in notes, the account being in the name of William Roberts. Some of the notes Avere received by acculsed from William Chandler, a commission agent, who had exchanged for him currency notes to the value of £SOO or £6OO. Moneys drawn by “Roberts” had been traced to Foster. With regard to happenings on the train, Francis George Bow'ley, a passenger guard, said that at Cardiff on February 2, he took charge of an express train from Swansea to Paddington. During the journey he left the vanjonoe, between Newport and Swindon, for the purpose of seeing how much luggage was in the middle van. On the way there he saw two men, one of Whom was Foster, sitting in the end compartment next tq the lavatory of his coach. They asked if they could get a drink, and when he said that they would have to wait for a while, Foster said that he had some whiskey and would like some soda. He gave witness 2/6 to get soda, and witness went away. On his return/ Foster was in the same place, and they had a couple of drinks together. Chandler, the commission agent, already referred to, said he had known a man named “Roberts” for two years and had occasionally changed notes for him. He remembered having, early this year, changed between £SOO-and £6OO in treasury notes. This concluded the evidence. “How is it that there is not a tittle of evidence to show that one of the currency notes mentioned was stolen?” asked Mr. Wilford for the defence. “It is not a crime to be in possession of currency notes.” Mr. Macassey: “The evidence shows clearly that accused was on the train, that he was penniless the day before the bag was stolen, and that he opened an account for £IOOO the next day.” Mr. Wilford: “The only evidence of his having been on the train is that of the guard, who, on his own admission, was half full ofwhiskey. It is a very thin case indeed, and the jury will have to discharge prisoner.” The Magistrate: “The evidence is such that accused must be committed to prison to await his return to England.” An order for extradition was accordingly granted.