A YOUTH'S LAPSE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1916, Page 8

A YOUTH'S LAPSE.

THEFT OF A POSTAL PACKET. 'At the Magistrate's Court. Xew''Plymouth, yesterday afternoon,' before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., Daniel Alex. McDonald, aged 19 years, foi whom Mr. Quilliam appeared, was charged with that, 011 or about June 28, while being a servant in tile employ of his Majesty's postal service in the Dominion of Now Zealand, at aitara, he did steal a postal packet containing money and cheques. ■Sub-Inspector Foully briefly outlined the facts of the case. A letter had been posted by Mr. Carr, of thd Mokau Harbor Board, with money and cheques, which had not reached their destination. Defendant had admitted opening the letto?, using tile bank notes and burning the cheques.

J. B. Can-, secretary to the Mokau Harbor Board, deposed that lie gave a 'i ter to Mr. Xicolls to post, Letter was addressed to Bank of Xew Zealand, Waitara. and contained four £1 notes and four cheques.. (Latter were described). Letter was stamped, but not registered. Gave Xicolls the letter (along with two others) about 10 o'clock in the evening. Cross-examined: Of his own knowledge he could not say whether the letter containing the valuables was posted or not. It was not his practice to send a letter containing money without registering it. None of the cheques had been presented for payment, S. W. Xicholls, boarding-house keeper at Mokau, gave evidence as io seeing the letters made up, and receiving them from last witness to post. Posted letters at 'Mokau post office on his way home. Cross-examined: Three of the notes had been given by witness to Carr in exchange for silver. Saw Carr put notes and cheques in envelope. Frederick W. Bottrell, accountant at the Bank of New Zealand, Waitara, deposed to receiving the packet containing the pass-book, but not the letter containing the notes and cheques. J. T. W. Collier, postmaster at Waitara, said McDonald was a cadet ,in his office. Accused, among other duties, hod to sort mails, inward ai}d outward. Accused was sometimes by himself in the office. On the afternoon of June 29 accused was on duty from 1 o'clock. Other officers were also on duty between 1 and 5 p.m.; from (i till 7 p.m. accused was or. his own, and then tiil S.SO there were two other officers. Accused, who was under, 10 years of age, joined the Waitara staff in .January last. Accused, with the exception of two months spent as a telegraph cadet at Marton, came direct from the gallery (at Oamaru) to Waitara. He was practically inexperienced in postal and savings bank duties. Knew accused was a stranger to the town. As officer in charge he kept the 'boys as much as possible under control. Bv Sir. Quilliam: Pome months ago accused had to relieve a clerk on the counter during the dinner hour, and a sum of £2 Ids was missing afterwards. Accused made good this amount. Witness was quite satisfied that this was a genuine mistake. Accused's character and work had been very good but for this lapse. John Laurenson, senior clerk, chief inspector's branch, ft.P.O., Wellington, gave evidence as to accused's age and his career in the service. Witness had been sent to Waitara to inquire into irregularities in the Waitara office and had done so. lie questioned accused, who, after a little time, voluntarily gave witness a statement, one sentence of which read: "A letter from Mokau to Bank of Xew Zealand, Waitara, I ripped it up, and a few others, but I am not the only one that luts done this." The boy broke down aftei confession. and witness did not press him, but accused stated that a letter from the Mokau Harbor Board to the Bank of Xew Zealand, Waitara, was one that lie had taken, and that it contained four £l notes. Cross-examined: Accused wrote his confession entirely of his own free will, I and very frankly. But for the confession there was not a tittle of evidence ' against accused, but there was a strong suspicion. But for tile lad's statement there would no chance of obtaining a conviction.

To the S.M.: The boy said that a number of letters had been stolen in the Waitara office, hut he would not say who was responsible. 1 Constable Fitzfiib'oon gave formal evidence as to arrest and receiving a statein on t.

Accused had nothing to sav : anil •pleaded guilty. He was tlten remanded to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence.