Magistrate's Court.

Manawatu Herald, 23 May 1895, Page 3

Magistrate's Court.

, • ♦ JP*;-' Palmerbton, Tuesday. : (Before R. L. Stanford, Esq., S.M.) George Storey, on remand, was charged with opening a post letter on the 14th May, 1895, addressed to , Mrs C. Rickard, Ohau. Mr Cooke appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Hankins for the accused. Mr Cooke, after opening hi3 case, called the following evidence :— Eliza Evans, of Fitzherbert road, pahherston North, said the letter, • 'produced, was written by her to her ■ daughter, Mrs C. Rickard, of Ohau. The letter was given to a baker boy to post on the afternoon of the 14th. „ John Laurenson, employed at the Palmerston Post Office, identified the ', fetter produced. He first saw it at - Jive minutes to seven last Tuesday flight. In consequence of what had been said to witness by Mr Innes on the afternoon of that day, as the Ijenior officer on duty on Tuesday evening he had to keep a sharp look but to see that nothing went wrong, consequence of these instructions Witness went to a particular bundle OH the sorting table on Tuesday night. Another officer, Mr Worth, W»8 also present. Witness looked Wroagh the letters for the purpose 0* again checking them. There Srere not more than twenty letters. ' This particular bundle was the ••Railway Post Office South," and was the mail for all the email stations between Palmerston and Wellington. Ttie letter addressed to Mrs Riokard was among the number. He picked it out as being the most bulky letter "fa the bundle. Mr Worth saw wit- . raw pick theletter out. He returned 'It to the bundle and left it there. Witness then went to the other end of the room to continue his operating tterk. About five minutes past seven Mr George' Storey entered the room. |f e "made one or two casual remarks, and gave witness a private message to send to Wellington for himself. He was off duty then from nine until the following morning. After speaking to witness, accused left him and walked towards the other end of the room. He heard him stop near the table containing the bundle of letters referred to, afterwards returning to witness 1 end of the room, and then entered the telephone box where he was hid from view. Accused after coming out of the telephone box spQkj to witness, who had just fin- "^ iiii|o|hiß work. Both witness and acsied walked to the other end of the room, Mr Storey going out of the back door and witness went to the table containing the letter referred to. Witness saw that the position of the bundle had been al* tered. To his knowledge no one but accused had been near it. Witness picked up the bundle and missed the letter, produced. When he first saw the letter it was sealed up. While witness was examining the bundle Mr Innes entered the room, and he reported that the letter was missing. He also called Mr Worth who examined the bundle at witness* request. George Worth and William McKinnon, telegraphists, corroborated LaurensoD, and also detailed the following conversation with Mr Innes:— About one o'clock witness and Mr G. Worth were called into Mr Innes' private office. Mr G. Storey was also there. Mr Innes informed Mr Storey that he had a very painful matter to deal with, and that itooncerned him. In reply to Mr Storey's enquiry as to what was the nature of the enquiry, Mr Innes inarmed him that he had a letter in his pooket which did not belong to him* Mr Storey replied " I have no legftfecMr Innes." Mr Innes said « 4 rknbw yombave the letter and I want you to place it there on that tabled' Mr Storey said "I have a letUivit is my own," and he there* upon produced a letter addressed to himself.. Mr Innes replied that that was Storey's own letter, but he wanted another which he had. After another denial by Mr Storey he took thfc letter (produced} addressed to Makßickards from his pooket. He ia& it was the only letter he had taketo, and he oould explain it. He had never done this before. Accused thfaf asked Mr Innes not to tail his br&gilr lien. Mr Innes then told Msas. Storey that any explanations he might give would be forwarded to headquarters. George lanes, postmaster, said the accused occupied the position of telegraphist in the post office at Paltatnlon North. He was employed in the Postal Department of the New Zfilftnd Government. It was not his duty under any circumstances to opefraay letters. By Mr Bankins : Accused's prin» cipw duty was telegraphing, but he had other duties to perform. Thlsooaoluded the oaio for the wotsoutioa. Hii Worship nid a prim* foci* UHhftd bttb&ftdt oat and com*

mitted the accused for trial at next sittings of the District Court in Pal. merston North. Accused wa3 admitted to bail on the eame terms as before. — Times.