LETTER CARRIER’S LAPSE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 24 March 1926, Page 8

LETTER CARRIER’S LAPSE.

YOUNG MAN BEFORE COURT. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. Five charges of stealing poslat packets containing money to the value of £ls. one charge of taking £3 nit of a postal packet during transmission, and two charges of having opened postal packets, contrary to hi.s duty, wore preferred against a letter carrier I John William Davie), at a sitting of the Timaru Police Court in Timaru yesterday. Mr A. L. Gee, J.P., and Mr .1. F. Arnold, J.P. were on the Bench. Mr J. Emslie appeared for the accused. Detective Walker stated that accused was a postal officer, and the thefts alleged had commenced in August last, the money’ being taken out of correspondence and parcels during tho course of delivery. In smne cases the letters were officially re-sealed and in other cases were destroyed.

Harvey’ John Brunt, supervisor of postmen at Timaru, said that it was ins duty to hand the registered letters to tlie postmen for which each man signed in a special honk. Witness remembered handing a registered letter to a postman named Whitley on August 24 last, addressed to a Mrs Beal, IS Browne Street. The letter was never delivered, and was missed during the course of delivery. Complaints had also been received from a Mrs Burrell. On March 26 witness received a letter from Waimato and sorted it into a special round for the accused, who had been on that round on ever.v occasion a complaint had been received from Mrs Burrell.

To Mr Emslie: Apart from these complaints accused had been a good worker, and had always given satisfaction.

Stanley’ Whitley, a postman, employed at tho Timaru Post Office, said lie commenced duty in August last. Ho remembered receiving a registered letter from Mr Brunt-, addressed to Mrs Beal, which lie put among his letters. When ho arrived at Mrs Beale’s he found that the letter was missing. After finishing tho round he reported the matter to the supervisor. Ho was not sure whether accused helped him to sort his letters that morning or not, but ho was sitting alongside and would have an opportunity of taking the letter without witness seeing it. John L. Sage, postmaster at Waimate. said that on March 16 last he posted a lottto Mrs Burrell, Luxmore Road, Timaru, which as far as he knew contained a- £1 note. The letter was posted at 7.30 a.m. in time to catch tho first mail and should have been delivered to Mrs Burrell on the ■afternoon of the 17th. The letter was not registered. , ' Mary Isabel Burrell, residing at 67 Luxmore Road, Timaru, stated that about January 30 last she expected to receive a letter containing money. The letter arrived, but it had been opened and officially resealed with tho Timaru seal. According to tho letter there should have been £3 in pound notes ill the envelope, but no money’ was in it. On February 10. witness received another letter which had been opened. It contained no money and had been re-scaled, but not officially. On February 17 witness received _ a third letter. It bore signs of having been previously opened, the gum being quite wet. The accused was tlie postman who had delivered the letters. On March 17 .she did not receive a letter from Waimato, and the postman did not call that day’. She had not received the letter y’et. Mrs J. Gibb, residing at 39 Raymond Street, Timaru. said that during tho latter end of January and February she should have received three letteis from her daughter, but none arrived. She inquired and found that letters hnd been sent every fortnight. The letters were -expected to contain money. The matter was not reported to the Post Office.

R. J. Walker, detective, stationed at Timaru, said that as a result of complaints received be made inquiries on March 17, and in company with tho postmaster interviewed accused in connection witli tlie matter. At first bo denied all knowledge of the matter, but later made statements in which he admitted taking a letter addressed to Sirs Beal, while assisting Whitley to sort his letters. He also admitted stealing letters, some containing money, addressed to Mrs Burrell, and Mrs Gibb. Arthur Shelton, aeting-Chief Postmaster at Timaru, gave corroborative evidence regarding the statements made by accused. To Mr Emslie: Ho bad been acting Postmaster at Timaru for about five weeks, and did not know much about the accused. The Office records showed that as far as bis work was concerned it was satisfactory, _ and iiis character was good. He delivered letters by bicycle and bis hours were approximately from seven a.m. to four p.m., with an hour and a half for lunch. His salary was £7O per annum. If accused used las ownbicycle lie would receive £6 a year for its upkeep, but if it was an office machine, bought at a special rate, be would pay for all repairs himself. Tie could not say whether accused had refunded the money or not. He was just eighteen years of age. Accused pleaded guilty to ail the charges, and.was committed to tho Sunremc Court for sentence. Bail was allowed—seif in £SO, and in one surety of £SO, accused to report to the probation officer once weekly.