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CHARGE AGAINST A HOLYHEAD…

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CHARGE AGAINST A HOLY- HEAD POSTMAN. AliLEGED LARCENY OF A POSTAL PACKET. ACCUSED HUMAN DEI). At Holyhead Police Court, on Thursday week, before Dr. T. W. Clay, liobert Jones, Leonard-street, a postman, was chax-ad by the postal authorities with the larceny of a postal packet containing a written communication and a safety razor, value as, whilst in course of transmission by post, the property of the Postmaster General. Mr Oswald Speakman Ilobbs, overseer at the local Post Olfice, gava formal evidence of having searched the defendant's bedroom, and finding tho razor, which had since been iden- tified. Upon this evidence Deputy Chief Constable Prothero, on behalf of the prosecutor, applied for a remand, which w?s granted untii Thursday. Bail was allowed, the accused's father iu the sum of £10, and the accused in a similar a,mount.. Yesterday morning the aceused came up on remand, before Dr. T. W. Clay. Mr J. B Allanson prosecuted, and Mr T. n, Lvans de- fended. Mr Allanson, in his opening statement, said 'that the accused was charged under Section 55 of the Po3t Office Act of 1908, The accused, who, prior to the inquiry, had borno a thor- oughly good character, entered th-e postal ser- vice as a boy messenger on October 10th. 1908, and after serving at Bangor he returned to Holyhead as a postman in April, 1914. He was in his 23rd year, and resided at home with his parents. His wages were 21s weekly In April last suspicion was aroused because it was found that lie had been in the habit of examining the ''mis-sent, box" in the sorting room. As a postman he had access to that room, but he had no right to interfere with the box wherein was placed those letters which had been put into the wrong bag. On May 4th, the date of the first charge, the contents of the box were checked by two postmen before the accused went on duty. He was afterwards seen examining the con- tents. Two packets out of the five which the box contained were missing, one being for Glasgow, and the other for Port Slade. Henry Foster, a siJk-qnd cotton dyer, Leek, I Staffordshire, said that\m the 3rd May he made up a packet consisting of a safety razor, a letter and some loose paper. Ha put the letter loose in a tin box, which was the only one he used, placing brown paper round the box. The razor was his. The box was ad- dressed to "Sa'pper M. Foster, Royal En- gineers, Port Slade." The razor (produced) was the one which he placed in the box. Th-ere was no particular mark on the blade. He gave the box to his mother. At this stage the witness fainted, and he was taken from the witness box, another wit- ness being then called. Robert Roberts, Thoryas-street, a postman, stated that on May 4th he checked the mis- sent correspondence at about 5.45 a.m. The box contained five packets, of which he made a list. It was not usual to do that. The accused came on duty at six o'clock. An- other postman named Morgan made another Hit. Both lists were compared, and they were found to agree. It was not part of the accused's duty to examine the mis-sent box. At about 6.15 witness saw the accused put his hand into the box, the contents of which he examined. The Justice: Where were you then? Witness: In the sorting room. He sa.id he saw the accused extract two packets from the box, and went towards his own sorting desk, remained there for a moment, and then went out through the door leading to the lavatory. Accused was not aware that he was being watched. When the accused returned he went out on his delivery. Witness and a man named Bell examined the box, and of the two packets which had been taken out one had been returned. The one which was miss- ing was addressed to "Sapper M. Fester, 9?,477, Hoyal Engineers, 104 Field Com" Port Siad e. 95477, The packet was a small one wrapped in brown paper, and tied very tightly with string. O-oss-exaniiried, witness said the sorting box was in the office whore there were two clerks. There was only one clerk and witness in ilia room when he examined the box about 5.45. Between then and the timo .JOE('.J came on duty how many people had gone into the room?—All the country postmen. Were you watching them?—I was watching the box. Where wove you when the accr-sed was in tie room?—Two yards awav. Did you GaY anything to tho man when you saw him taking the parcel?—*No. Why?—It was not my duty. I reported it to postmaster. When you saw him carrying the parcel did you report it at postmaster was not there, but, I told Mr Bell,the clerk. Is it not strange that you did not tell Jones that he was taking a parcel which did not belong to him ?-It was not my duty to do so. My duty was to report the matter to tho po.stmaser. When was he suspended?—-On the 22nd June. Mr Allanson: You were acting throughout that morning on instructions?—I was not given jn- structions. I simply did what I thought was my duty. witness no,,N- i-ecoN-ere- d retitrie d The first witness having now recovered returned to the witness box, and, replying to Mr A)!nn?on, he said that hiR mother was ill.—In cross-examina- tion, ho said that of his own knowledge he did not d with t-ite pac?,,?,t. Ile know what his mother did with the packet. He had no distinctive ma-rk on the razor. The marks on the blade were such as might be found on any b!.a.do which had been in use. Edw Morgan. a postman, deposed that on the 4 th May he examined the contents of the "mis- I sent box" at 5.30 a.m., and made a list of the names and addresses of the packets in it. Robert Roberts also made a list with which witness com- pared hu list, and they were identical. Witness destroyed his list. About 6.20 lie saw the accused examining the mis-sent correspondence, which did not form part of hij duty. At the time wit- ness was sorting the newspapers. He saw the ac- cused take all the property out, then ho took po-session of two packets, one being addressed to Sapper Foster, and the ot-her to Mr Burn, Glas- gow. Tho accused put the packets in his pocket, and then went back to his own sorting table. He then went out. Witness then noticed that there were only three packets in the mis-sent box. Ac- cused returned to the office, and after he had gone out on his delivery witness, with two others examined the mis-sent box, which contained three packets. Later on witness foui d the Glas- gow packet on the stamping table, which the ac- cused had to pass in going out on his delivery. On the 22nd June witness accompanied Mr Hobbs to the defendant's home, where they found the razor (produced) in a drawer, and Mr Hobbs took possession of it. Mr Evans: What time of day was it?—About 6 p.m. Did you hear Mr liobti. asking Jones if he could searoh the house?—I did not hear that. Did you see Jones handing a key to Mr Ilobbs9 —Yes, in the house. When you opened the two locked drawers, did you find any stolen property?—"Nothing at all. Proceeding, witness said that when spoken to by Mr Ilobbt; accused said he had received the razor as a present from his sister on his birtnday. That, was all the accused said. There was no at- tempt on the part of the aooused to conceal tho razor. Mr Evans: He was open and straightforward ?— Yew. You say that you saw him removing the pack- ets?—Yes. And that there wero three left?—Yes. I understood Mr Robert Roberts to say that there were three?—I found one on the stamping table. It was not put back in the mis-sent box. Did you speak to Jones when lie took the pair cols?—No. How fair were you ?-IIe was by my side. So you suggest that lie did this quite openly ?— I was busy øorting the newspalvers and keeping an eye on the mis-sent box. Have you always found Jotiei a very respect-able ma.n Yea. Straightforward in his dealings?—Yes. Thomas Arthur Bell, sorting clerk and tele- graphist, said he went on duty at six a.m. on the 4th May. Robert Roberts handed him the list (produced). Witness did not check it. About 6.20 to 6.30 he saw the accused standing near the news sorting table. For the position occupied by witness it was not possible for him to see what the accused did. When the accused left for his delivery witness examined the contents of the mis-sent box with the. list, and found the two referred to missing. He made no further ex- amination of the be*. < Mr Evans: Do you know that in the end there was only one parcel missing?—Yes. Mr Edward Evans, postmaster, produced the accused's official declaration upon his appoint- ment. Up to and till this inquiry his record had been good. Mr Allanson: Had he any right at any time to interfere with the contents of the mis-sent box?--No, it was no part of his duty. On the 22nd June did you interview the accused with Mr Hobbs at your officet-Yes. Had there been missing postal packets?—Yes. What did you say to hirn?—I cautioned him. I asked him as to the two packets, and if he had had them in his possession. He said no. Mr Evans: The Glasgow parcel was not missing on the 22nd June?—No. On the 22nd June did you search him?—He turned up his pockets. He was asked if he had any objection, and he said no. Did you ask him about the razor?—Later on. Did Mr Hobbs tell you that he had searched him, but found nothing on him?—No. What did he tell you about the razor?-That he had got it as a present from his sister in Liverpool. Did you send for his sister?— Yes. Did she make a statement? -Yes. Did she tell you she had given the razor to her brother on his birthday?—Yes. From May 4th to the 22nd June was this man employed by you ?--Y es. When was he suspended?—On the 22nd June. At this stage Mr T. It. Evans said he would apply for a further remand so as to allow him time to prepare his defence. Mr AHanson: The prosecution is ready to pro- ceed, and we have all our witnesses here. After further argument, Mr Evans stated that he would renew his application at the close of the case for the prosecution on the first charge. Mr Oswald Speakman Hobbs now added to his former evidence by stating that the accused was perfectly willing to show everything in the house. Cross examined: You remember the 22nd June? -.Yes. Did you search him? He turned out his pockets. What did the Postmaster say to him?—He cautioned him, and asked him questions. You went to the accused's house?—Yes. Ho gave you every facility? -Yes. He said the razor was one which his sister had given him?-Yes. You searched the accused?— Y es. Were you present when the statement was made by Miss Jones?—No. It was dictated to me or copied. Are the notes from which you copied the statement available now?—I have not got them. Were you present when the statement was signed?—No. In whose presence was the statement, signed? —T do not know. Do you remember having a conversation with the ticeuged in Holborn-road ?—Yes. Did he ask when he was going to be reinstated? —He did. Mr Edward Joseph Stratford, London, said he was the prosecutor in the present case. Sergeant Kvan Williams deposed that he ar- retted the accused on the 5th inst., at 12.20 p.m., at the local Post Office, being given in charge by the last witness. After being cautioned at the police station accused said, pointing to Mr Stratford, "I have told that gentleman every- thing. This closed the case for the prosecution, and upon Mr Evans renewing his application, the justice granted a further remand until next Wed- nesday morning, bail being fixed as before.

LLANFAIRFECHAN. I

BODVEAN. I

IDOLGARROG.f

LLANRWST SHOW. 1

CONWAYj

PENMAENMAWR.I

BETTWSYCOED VISITOR'S ESCAPE.

PLUCKY CONWAY FISHERMAN.

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