The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1881-02-22 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

THE POST-OFFICE ROBBERY. Edward Buahrod, who was last week brought before the Borough magistrates for attempting to commit suicide, wee brought up on three charges of obtaining money by false pretences. Mr. T. Coombs appeared to prosecute on behalf of the postal authorities. Thomas Bishop Elle./ 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 postman Bushrod (letter produced). He charged him Is. 61. on it, saying the letter was over weight. He paid the money. He opened the letter and found only one sheet of paper. His letter had the Is. 61. marked In blue on the envelope. Prisoner: I said the letter was from New Zeriand, and that it had no stamps on it. Wetness: He said the letter was over weight. Ann Tucker said she lived at Broadmayne. On December 24th she received a letter by the second delivery. The prisoner handed it to her, and on the Christmas morning she paid him one nanny for it. She made that payment thinking it was an official charge. When he handed her the letter he said" You have to pay a penny on it," and she promised to pay hem on the following morning. (Envelope praduced.) The envelope had the hue mark n it. Francis Fooks Bartlett, of Broadmeyee, said on December Bth she received a registered lett,r from the prisoner. It was sent by Mr. Rose. of Weymouth. Prisoner said there was 8 I. to pay on it sic registered letter. She paid the money. There was a blue mark on it. Mr. Charles Pawns, postmaster, of Dorchester, said the marks oa the three envelopes (produced) were not the official marks of the Post-office, excepting in the case of the registered letter. Ho produced the rural letter carrier'e letter bell fir August 511, from Dorchester ti Broadmayne. There was no official charge of ls. 61. on it. bat there was one of l 1. only. All the money that the carriers were to collect was entered on the bill ; they had to collect it, and bring it back to the Poet-office with the bill at night. He only made a return 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 she 24th, as there was a special deliveiy on that day. The blue mark of lc 61. on Ellery's envelope was not an official mark. There was an official mark on Miss Bartlett's envelooe only es regarded the registration, but the figure Bd. and the word " p sated" were not official. Letter carriers were not &Rowel to make any charges whatever. They were provided with blue pencils. Hs questioned the prisoner on February 10th in consequence of enquiries he had made at Broadmayne during the day, and he denied it at find. Ile told him he should suspend hire, and he replied he would conies,' to all the charges. Prisoner had nothing to say in answer to the charge. He was then charged with obtaining 61. by false  pretence.. Minnie Jemima Lane said she lived at Broadmayne. On the February, 6th lust— she received a registered letter from the prisoner. He said 'There is s•xpence to pay," but did not say what it was for. (The envelope was produced). She paid the sixpence, and signed the receipt (produced). Mr. Parsons produced the letter hi" for the day in question. There was a charge of 61. on it, but it was not the charge on the registered letter. He put in the receipt tom for the registered letter. The sixpence which wee charged on the letter bill was for o:dinary letters. The blue mark "posted" and the figure " 6d." were not official marks. He hut no right to make any charge on the letter at all. Mr. Supt. ale said he apprehended the prisoner on Thursday last on a warrant, chart:mg him with obtaining 6d. by false pretences of a Mrs. Lane, of Broaffmayne. After telling him the charge, he asked If Mn. Lane was in here, remarking—" I wish she was here, as I want to get it off my mind, and get the matter settled; I know I foolishly done it." He asked it he wern speaking in confidence, and witnees told him no, be bad said too mach already, and had better net say  any 0:10111. Prisoner, who had nothing to say in answer to the charge, was duly committed for trig.' at the next Quarter Beerions. eTILALIAO MONIIT AT 'Bons