Poor Economy

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 142, 18 July 1929, Page 6

Poor Economy

Per Press Association.

20 SAVED, £200 DEMANDED Stamp Collector Uses Marked Stamps HIS EIGHTH OFFENCE

DUNEDIN, Last night. A difficult question wliich was put to Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., in the Police Court this niorning, was whether a stamp whieh had beeu placed 011' a parcei by a stamp dealer had been previously cancelled or not. Wkliam .Lawrence Hooper was cliarged with fraudulently iixing or placing upon a postal jiac-ket a postage stamp wliich had been reinoved from some other postal packet, cover paper or other material. He was represented by Mr B. S. Irwin and pleaded not guiity. Defendant, in evidence, said that he was a buyer of used and unused stamps. Lately lie had been almost deluged with stamp coilections in books containing both used and unused stamps. He got a parcei from a neighbour to post and he said it would cost about 2d. He submitted a stamp to his two head.girls, and he noticed that the stamp was a little faded and slightly toru at one corner. There was an infinite variety in the shades of stamps. A stamp slightly soaked in hot water was inelined to become lighter in sliade. On the back of this particular stamp there was a little gum. AVitness drew the attention of the man t the counter to the stamp, and he found nothing wrong witli it. When witness posted the parcei he was quite couvinced that the stamp was good. They were very careful in the office. His Worship said accused was cliarged with having fraudulently used a previously cancelled stamp. There seemed to he a. double defence. First, that the stamp had not been previously nsed and was genuine ; and, secondly, tliat Hooper acted quite bona fide. Evidence that the stamp had been previously cancelled liad been given in very minute dctail, and, on the other hand» evidence had been given by two printers. who criticised the evidence given by tho postal offic-ials and disagreed with them. He did not think the very explicit and detailed evidence of the postal official liad been meet by witnesses for the defence. Ohief-Detective Cameron lianded over a list showing seven convictions for previons offences. His Worship saicl tliat in view of accused's rccord lie did not know if he was justified in dealing witli the case bv way of a monetary penaltv. Accused seemed to 1i ave a mania for tliis class of offence. On this occasion a monetary penaltv would be imposed. but if mnst bo a hravv oue. Accus"d would be fined £200 and costs. A vcck was ■-illoved to make pavment.