The Poole Telegram. — 1881-02-25 (Poole, Dorset, England)

TILE POST-OFFICE 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 tombs appea ad to prosecute on behalf of the postal authorities. Thomss Bishop finery was the first witness. He said he lived at 13roadmayne, and on the sth August he received a letter. It was handed him by the pos.man Bushrod (letter produced). He charged hint 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 ter. His letter had the Is. 61. marked In blue on the envelope. Prisoner: I said the letter was from New Zoaland, and that it had ne stamps on it. Witness: He said the letter was over weight. Ann Tucker said she lived at Broadmayue. On December 24th she received a letter by the second ..-lelivery. The prisoner handed it to her, and on the As,), fitting's morning she paid him one penny for it. :1'31; '(le that payment thinking it. was an official "hr -I he handed her the letter he said "You cliar.re. v. have to pay a • telmy on it,' and she promised ts pay him on the foll .0. -mgmorning.' (Envelope produced.) The envelope had tho u i mark on t. , of Broadmayne, said on Francis Fooks Bartle, registered letter from the December 8;h she received a prisoner. It was sent by Mrs. scise! of Weymouth. There we.: a blue mark Prisoner said there was 81. to pay ou it as a registered letter. 6he paid the money. on it. Mr. Charles Parsons, postmaster, of Dorcha;ter, 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 August sth, from Dorchester to Broadmayne. There was no official charge of Is. 61 on it, but there was one of 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-effice with the bill at night. He only made a return of l 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. 61. 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 83. and the word " posted " were Lot official. 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, and he denied it at first. He told him he should strewn 1 him, and he replied he would confess to all the charges. Prisoner had n thing to say in answer to the charge. He was then charged with obtaining 6d. by false pretence*. Minnie &mins Lane said she lived at Broadmayne. On the Febrna-y, 6th inst., she re-eived a registered letter from he prisoner. He said "There is alai:once to p ty," but did rot say what it was for. (The envel toe WAN produced). he paid the sixpence, and signed the recent (produced). Mr. Pars ms produced the letter bill for the day in qnestion. There was a charge of 61. on it. but it was not the charge on the re tistered letter. He put in the receipt form f‘ r the register ,d letter. The sixpence which was charg on Vie Itter bill was for ordinary letters. The blue mark "posted" and the figure "61." were not official marks. He hrtd no right to make any charge on the letter at all. Mr. Supt. Gate said he apprehended the prisoner on Thorrday la,t on a warrant, charging him with obtaining 63. by false pretences of a Hrs. Lane, of  Broadmayne. After telling him the charge, he asked If Mrs. Lane wee in here, remerking—"l wish sle was her, as I want to get it off rov mind, end get the matter settled ; I know I foolishly done it." Ile naked if he was speaking in confidence, and witness told him no, he had MO too much already, and had better net say any more.  __ • Priaontr. who had nothing to say in answer to the charge, was duly comanitte 1 fur trial at toe next Quarter Se.sions,