POSTAL OFFICIAL UNDER ARREST

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 158, 24 September 1927, Page 1

POSTAL OFFICIAL UNDER ARREST

NGONGOTAHA AFFAIR NEW STEP IN MYSTERY (From Our Own Correspondent) ROTORUA, To-day. Following inquiries conducted by the police in the past few days, a young man in the employ of the Post and Telegraph Department, stationed at Ngongotaha, was arrested yesterday afternoon, and charged “that on or about August 12, at Ngongotaha, being in possession of £3O as officer of the department, he did steal the said sum.”’ Various stories are current of an alleged attack on the official in question on the night of September 15. The official himself stated that he collapsed and knocked over a lamp, and as a result some paper money was burned. On Thursday afternoon the official left in a motor-car, which the police discovered bogged on the old Taupo Road. A note left in the car, it. is alleged, indicated that the young man intended taking his life, and he was found shortly after in a state of collapse Accused appeared before Mr. W. L. Richards, J.P., yesterday afternoon, and was remanded to appear at Rotorua on October 7. Bail was granted at £2OO, but no sureties were forthcoming. The man's name Was suppressed. He was committed to custody in the Auckland gaol. The man appeared to be suffering from nervous strain, and Detective Sweafney assured the bench that he would be under medical supervision while in custody.