RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 47, 24 February 1874, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

[Before L. Bkoad Esq., R.M.J This Day. Edward Tlenry Reilley was charged under the 40th section of the Postoffice Act with stealing a certain post letter containing money to the amount of £5. Mr H. Adams conducted the prosecution. Sydney J. Dick deposed as follows: lam Chief Postmaster in Nelson. I put the letter produced, addressed " Mr Thomas Cormack, New Plymouth,*' into the Richmond letter bag yesterday morning. It contained five £l notes. I afterwards looked for the letter, but it was not where it should have been, and I could not find it at all. I then asked tbe prisoner to come into my private room. He did so. This was about half an hour after I had put the letter into the bag. I told him there was a letter missing, and asked, him if ho knew anything of it. He said he knew nothing of it. I asked him to show me the contents of his pockets. He produced several things, but neither the cover of the letter or the monoy. I asked bim to give me his coat. He took it off. I found the envelope of the letter crumpled up in the skirt pocket. He then handed me the notes from his trowsers pocket. He pleaded bitterly to have the thing overlooked or arranged in some way. I asked him why he had taken the money. He said he did not know, he really was not in want of it. I know the notes produced to be those I posted, because I took a list of the dates and numbers before putting them into the envelope, and I also tcok a small piece off the corner of each note. The prisoner's salary 1 think was £90 a year. Prisoner, who declined to say anything in his defence, was committed for trial. His Worship being asked whether in the event of bail being forthcoming he would accept it, said tbat if he did so he should require two sureties of £250 each, and tbe prisoner in a like amount. He was obliged to fix a large sum as the offence was a very grave one, the prisoner being liable to penal servitude for life.