It sounds like a Frank POWELL had a postal order stolen from him here. As this involves a census office, it feels extra relevant to a family historian.
Taken from The Newton & Earlestown Guardian, 07/01/1916.
THEFTS FROM CENSOR'S OFFICE
William Christian Jacob Bollaam, a Dutchman, was charged before Mr. Hopkins at Bow Street Police Court on Monday with stealing postal orders from letters in the Censor's Office.
It was stated that the prisoner, who was employed as examiner in the Censor's Office, was in receipt, of a work salary of £4, his duties being to deal with correspondence intended for Holland.
In consequence of the loss of letters passing through the office special observation was kept, and on December 16th the prisoner was followed to the Strand Post Office, where he was seen to cash an order for 10s. in the name of Blou.
On December 24th he was seen to cash a postal order for 2s. in the name of Frank POWELL, and was then stopped by Detective Cartwright, who took him to the General Post Office, where he admitted having stolen both the orders referred to from letters opened by him in the Censor's Office.
The magistrate remarked that one of the orders in question was addressed to a prisoner of war in Holland. This was the meanest sort of pilfering possible, and he sentenced the prisoner to three months, with a recommendation for deportation.
