TANGLED SKEIN

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 351, 4 February 1937, Page 6

TANGLED SKEIN

POSTAL NOTE THEFT Proceeds Of Sale Of Bobby Calf. An involved set of circumstances necessitating lengthy police (inquiries were related in the Straitford /police jpourt terday when Lewis George Fetch of Okato, was dharged with |the theft of a five-shilling postal noth at Toko, on February 1, 1936, jtheproperty of John Hamilton-' Johnson. Accused pleaded guilty and' was fined ’£2. > I

Detective A. Jenvey said that on January 28, 1936 Johnson sent a bobby calf to Borthwick’s works at Waitara. A 5/- postal note was sent but when it was not received a complaint was- made. Inquiries were jnade and it was found that Mr. J. E. Johns'tjone, hotelkeeper at Toko, had received it by mistake. Petch milked his cow and he was promised the bobby calf. Believing that the postal note rightly belonged to Petch the hotelkeeper handed it to him. It was subsequently learned by the police that Petch had sent a bobby calf away in his own name and had been paid for it. That was the calf given him by the hotelkeeper. The postal note received by Petch was sent to Tattersails, Tasmania. By his ex naive’ ness accused had caused endless inuiries, the detective said. He was a married man with five children and nothing was known against him.

Sent to Tattersalls.

Asked by the Magistrate (Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M.) whether he had anything to s.ay Petch said it was difficult to recall the circumstances. The endorsement on the postal note sent to Tattersails was not in hfr handwriting. Detective Jenvey: There is no suggestion that the signature is his. It is a common practice for tradesmen to endorse postal notes. Both postal notes were sent by the same post and evidently accused received both on the same day. Willing to Apologise.

“I am willing to refund the money and apologise to Borthwicks,” said accused.

The Magistrate: But if you were paid twice it is not a matter of an apology. You see the number of inquiries that have had to be made. It is much better to tell the truth straight away. “What a tangled skein we weave when first we practice to deceive,” Mr. Woodward quoted. Accused admitted that he had been drinking at the time. After announcing the fine Mr. Woodward said that he would not make an order for restitution of the money but he told accused that if he was an honest man he would pay it.