THE STOLEN MAIL BAG.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 314, 14 June 1915, Page 8

THE STOLEN MAIL BAG.

' ACCUSED'S CONFESSION. At the hearing of the charge against Axel Edward Lythberg at the Wangauui Magistrate's Court, DetectiveSergeant Siddells said that on May 19 last a money order was issued at Normanby for three £lO notes, and owing to the smartness of one of the postal officials tho notes were identified as portion of thoso which had disappeared from Halcombo. The acoused was interviewed at Stratford, when two £2O notes were found in his possession. Thq accused then made a written confession. Mrs. E. S. Brown, residing at Normanby, said that on May 19 last she Went to tho post office with a postal order for £4O. Accused handed her threo £lO notes and two £5 notes. |

David Finlay, railway stationmaster and postmaster at Normanby, said that on May 19 last he was off duty, and was relieved by the accused, who came from Stratford. Tho accused was a clerk attached to tho latter offioe. (When witness handed orer the station there were not any £lO notes in the cash. When witness took over the cash again ho saw several £lO notes. At the end of tho week witness sent them in to Wanganui.

Senior-Sergeant McKeely, stationed at Hawcra, said that in company with De-tectiTo-Sergeant Siddells he saw the accused at Stratford on June 2nd last. They searched him and found three £2O notes in his pockets. Accused said: "I will make a clean breast of the affair." Witness then took down the statement, which said, inter alia: "On May 30, 1914, I was clerk in charge of the Halcombe railway station. I took the mailbag out of the vatf opened it in the office, and, after abstracting £l4O, destroyed the bag and the other contents byi fire in the station yard during tho night. A number of the notes were changed at the Feilding and Wahganui races. One £2O note was changed at the Wanganui Oup meeting. The others were found in my possession." The accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supremo Court at Wellington for sentence.—Chronicle.