Court proceedings: Thomas Hawkins: Mail theft

Thomas Hawkins b. 1843
Stealing, whilst employed under the Post Office, a post letter, containing a brooch, value 1s., and a paper box, of Her Majesty's Postmaster General.

MESSRS. METCALFE. and SLADE. conducted the Prosecution.

DORA MARCH . I live at Broadstairs—on 31st March I was staying with some friends in the Brixton Road—on that day I wrote a letter to my sister, and enclosed in it a brooch in a box—I addressed it to "Miss March, the Vale, Broadstairs"—I gave it to Miss Cronin to post—this (produced) is the brooch.

CHARLOTT CRONIN . I live at Claremont House, Brixton Road—on 31st March, about 4 in the afternoon, I took a packet, given me by Miss March, to post in Old Dorset Place, Clapham Road—a little boy named McCarthy actually dropped it into the post—but I saw him do so.

RICHARD GUMBLITON [sic]. I keep the Post Office receiving house, 12, Old Dorset Place, Clapham Road—a letter posted at my receiving house at 4 o'clock, would be sent on at 4.45 to the S. W. district office.

GEORGE PICKERSGILL . I am assistant charge taker at the S. W. district office—a letter coming from the Clapham Road office at 4.45 on the afternoon of 31et March, would, in the regular course, come to the S.W. district office about 5.30—it would be stamped in our office and passed on to the E.C. office at 5.45—there is no doubt this letter bears the stamp of the S.W. office—it would get to the chief office about 6.5 or 6.10.

ERNEST KERR WILLIAMS . I am a sorter in the General Post Office, in the newspaper branch—the prisoner was employed in the same branch—I was on duty there on 31st March—the prisoner was there—I was there from 9 in the morning—I saw the prisoner there from about 4 o'clock, on and off—about 6.20 I noticed him with a packet, like the one produced, in his hand, with some newspapers that he had been collecting—he went towards the S. E. division, deposited the papers on the table, and brought the packet back again—I made a communication to another officer in that branch.

HENRY CHARLES PEREIRA . I am a book officer in the newspaper branch at the Poet Office—on the afternoon of 31st March I received a communication from Mr. Williams, in consequence of which I noticed the prisoner—he was collecting papers and packets for the S. E. division, to take to the S.E. table—he had his left arm stretched out, with a package between his thumb and fingers, and some papers and packets on his left arm—I then communicated with Mr. Payne, the overseer of the S.E. division—while I went to Mr. Payne I saw the prisoner take the packet from his left hand into his right—I should say it was a packet of this size—I did not see the face of it.

WALTER EDWIN PAYNE . I am the overseer of the newspaper branch of the south-eastern division in the General Post Office—on the evening of 31st March, my attention was drawn to the prisoner—he was collecting newspapers and packets for the south-eastern division—when I saw him first he held an armful of papers in his left arm, and a packet in his right—after carrying it some little distance in his right hand, I saw him place it in his right hand coat pocket—he went to the south-eastern division table and placed the papers there—when he placed the packet in his pocket, he withdrew his hand at the same time, used it, and placed it back again—I reported the matter to Mr. Capstick, a brother officer—I went with the prisoner and Mr. Capstick into the inspector's room—the inspector questioned him with regard to his having anything in his pocket that did not belong to him—he said, "No"—he pressed the question—he then said he believed he had taken a packet from the table, and at the same moment he produced it, and put it on the desk, from his pocket—this is the packet. Prisoner. I should say it was an utter impossibility for the witness to see me putting the packet in my pocket; there was a table between us this height from the ground. Witness. There was nothing between us to prevent my seeing him; I was standing at the end of the stamping table.

HUGH CARTER . I am acting inspector at the General Post Office—the prisoner was brought into my room about 6.30, on the evening of 31st March—in consequence of what I asked him, if he had anything on his person that did not belong to him, he said, "No"—I said, "Are you quite sure?"—he said, "Quite sure, sir"—I then said, "Now be very careful what you say; did you take anything off the table, and place it in your pocket, that does not belong to you?"—he said, "No, sir"—I said again, "Be very careful what you say"—then there was a pause, and then he said, "Well, I think I did, sir," and he produced this from his pocket—he first pulled out his handkerchief, and then he pulled out the packet—he said, "I put it in my pocket, but I had no felonious intent"—I think he said he pulled out his handkerchief with the intention of using it—the prisoner was collecting from the table—he ought to have left this packet at the south-eastern table, and not to have brought it back again—it was his duty to collect parcels of every description sorted to that particular division—he should have put it down with the other things he collected.

MR. MKTCALPE. Q. Did you see the packet opened? A. Yes, at Bow Street, it contained a brooch.
Prisoner. He says he asked me four times; he only asked me twice, and the second time I produced the packet. Witness. He was not only asked twice, but the third time I asked him more impressively, and I believe the fourth time it was that he said, "I think I did."

The prisoner put in a written defence, stating that as he was collecting the parcels, and while he had the packet in his hand, a Mr. Levy, who was there, gave him a pinch of snuff, which caused a violent fit of sneezing, and he put the packet in his pocket while he used his handkerchief; that he then went about his duty, and forgot that he had placed it there.

WALTER EDWIN PAYNE . (re-examined). I saw a Mr. Levy there, he was employed there as an auxiliary—I did not see him speaking to the prisoner—I did not see the taking of any pinch of snuff—it might have taken place without my noticing it—to the best of my recollection he produced the packet the second time he was asked.

NOT GUILTY .

Proceedings of the Old Bailey
t18690503-456
3 May 1869

People mentioned

• Richard GUMBLETON