Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1881-02-25 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

ICE ROBBERY.  Edward Bushrod, who was last week brought before the .Borough magistrates for attempting to commit suicide, was brought up on three charges of obtaining money by false pretences. Mr. T. C minim appea ed to prosecute on behalf of the postal authorities. Thomas Bishop ftllery was the first witness. He said he lived at Broadmayne, and on the sth August he received a letter. It was handed him by the postman Bushrod (letter produced). He charged him is. 6 I. on it, saying the letter was over weight. He paid the money. He opened the letter and found only one sheet f p er. His letter had the Is. 6 I. marked j'n blue on the envelope. prLsimer : I said the letter was from New Z saland, " thm it had no stamps on it. "‘vitiv,s, said the letter was over weight. Ann Tucker 4 she .lived et Broadmayne. On se. December 24th she res,:eived a letter by the second -delivery. The prisoner handed it to her, and on the -Chiietruas morning she paid him one Denny for it. ;She made that payment thinking it was an official -cher;e. Whel he handed her the letter he said 'You lbale to pay a penny on and she promised t pay him on the following morning. (Envelope produced.) The envelope had the b'ne mark on it. Francis Fooks Bartlett, of Broadmayne, said on December Bth she received a registered letter from the prisoner. It was sent by Mrs. Rose, of Weymouth. Prisoner said there was 8 1. to pay on it as a registered letter. She paid the money. There was a blue mark OD it. Mr. Charles Parsons, pestmaster, of Dorchester, said the marks on the three envelopes (produced) were not the official marks of the Post-office, excepting in the case of the registered letter. He produced the rural letter carrier's letter bill for Au.;ust sth, from Dorchester tes Broadmayne. There was no official charge of is. 61. on it, but there was one of lid. only. All the money that the carriers were to collect was entered on the bill; they had to collect it, and bring it hack to the Post-office with the bill at night. He only made a retern of 1 I. on the day in question. He also produced the letter bill for December Bth. There was no charge of 81. on it. He made a return of id. only on that day. There was no letter bill for the 24th, as there was a special delivery on that day. The blue ma-k of is. 6 1. on Ellery's envelope was not an official mark. There was an official mark on Miss Bartlett's envelope only as regarded the registration, but the figure Bd. and the word " posted " were pot Letter carriers were not allowed to make any charges whatever.. They were provided with blue pencils. He questioned the prisoner on February 10th in consequence of enquiries he had made at Broadmayne during the day, am he denied it at first. He told him he should su-seind him, and he replied he would confess to all the charges. Prisoner had n thing tc say in answer to the charge. He was then charge 1 with obtaining 6d. by false pretences. Minnie .Tenanna Lane said she lived at Broadmayne. On the Febivary, 6th inst.. she releived a registered letter from the prisoner. He said "There is sixp3nce to pay," but did not say what it was for. (The •envelve was pro(luced). She paid the sixpence, and signed the receipt (produced). Mr. Parsons produaed the letter bill for the day in question. There was a charge of 6.1. on it, but it was not the charge on the rezrtered letter. He put in the receipt form f, a- the registered letter. The sixpence which was charg,d on the it ter bill was for ordinary letters. The blue mark "posted" and the figure "6d." were not official marks. He had no right to make any chalets on the letter at all. Mr. Supt. Gale said he apprehended the prisoner on Thursday Igeit on a warrant, charging him with obtaining 6d. by false pretences of a Mrs. Lane, of  Broadmayne. After telling him the charge, he asked if Mrs. Lane was in here, remarking—"l wi.la she was her,,, as I want to get it off my mind, and get the matter settled; 1 know I foolishly done it." He asked if he was speaking in confidenoe, and witness told him no, he had said too much already, and had better net say any more. Prisout r, who had nothing to say in answer to the charge, was duly commute i for trial at toe next Quarter Seosions.