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19. Can you tell me how a letter-carrier was able to tell a lady named Mrs. Stuart that her empty envelope had contained a notice of an Orange Lodge meeting ?—No, I cannot. 20. Can you tell me how another letter-carrier was able to tell Mrs. Stainton and her two daughters that an envelope had contained a notice of an Orange Lodge meeting?— No. 21. Is that explainable on any other ground than that he had looked in? —The carrier denies that he made such a statement. Mr. Ostler: We have three witnesses, and you have one. Mr. Gray: lam going to call him yet. 22. Mr. Ostler.] The only way he could have known was by looking inside?— Some other carrier might have known the business they were on and have told him. 23. Then either he or some other carrier must have been having a look. If he said that, that would be the only way?—l cannot say how he knew. 24. Mr. Gray.] Mr. Ostler suggests the only way was by looking inside, or by another carrier having a look inside: might not another carrier have been told that by an addressee? —Some carrier might have been interested in the movement. Ido not know that. William Charles Elliott, Letter-carrier, Auckland, examined. 1. Mr. Gray.] What is your name? —-William Charles Elliott. 2. A letter-carrier in the Auckland Post-office? —Yes. 3. Do you remember delivering a letter to Mrs. Stainton at 16 Norman Street on the 3rd July?— Yes. 4. Did you notice anything special about the envelope when you delivered it to her? —No, I did not. 5. Did you have a conversation with Mrs. Stainton in the afternoon about the letter?— She just remarked that I had left an empty envelope with her letters in the morning. 6. Anything else? —Until then I did not know it was empty. 7. Did she produce the envelope to you?— She held the envelope up to me. 8. Did you tell her what was in it? —I did not know what was in it. !). Give us the whole conversation? —She asked me if 1 had any idea what was in the envelope, and she described the envelope as marked " Box 912 " ; and I said I had. a number of them on the round to deliver this morning. 10. What did you mean by "a number of them"? —A number of those envelopes with that stamp " Box 912 " on. If. Did you tell her what the contents referred to?— Well, J. did. I said it was something to do with an Orange, Lodge. 12. How did you know it had to do with an Orange Lodge?— Because one of the carriers had one addressed to him. 13. And he had shown it to you ?—Yes. 1.4. You inferred that the letter to Mrs. Stainton was of the same character?— Yes. 15. Had you looked inside any envelope? —Not at all. In. When you said you had a number of that sort, you meant with " Box 912 " on them ?—Yes. 17. Did you mean you had a number empty?— Certainly not. 18. Have you had any conversation with Mrs. Stainton since that day?—No, not at all. 19. Mr. Ostler.] If Mrs. Stainton says you told her you had a number on the round which were empty, would you deny that? —Yes. 20. Would you still deny it if her daughter swore the same thing?—l deny it. 21. Would you still deny it if Mrs. Lockie, another daughter, also swore the same thing?— Yes; I deny it. 22. What was the name of this letter-carrier who had this letter addressed to him?— Mr. Rusden. 23. Can you tell me his initials?—No; I do not know his initials. His Worship: The Post Office could supply those, I suppose. 24. Mr. Ostler.] Is it H. Rusden ?—I think it is, 25. Where was it you saw him ?—He opened it down, in the office before we went out in the morning. 26. In your presence only?—No; there were other carriers there. 27. Was there any conversation about it between you?—No, nothing at all. 28. How did you know what was in his letter ?—Because he showed it to us. 29. Did he say anything when he showed it to you?— Nothing particular. 30. He must have said something. Is he deaf and dumb ?—I do not know that he is deaf and dumb. We did not have a lot of conversation —we were busy that morning. 31. But surely he said something?—He had sent for it to go himself, I suppose 32. Did he say anything about sending for it to go himself ?—lt was for him—it was addressed. 33. What did he say about it?—He did not say anything about it. We have no time for conversation in the morning. 34. What part did you look at when he showed it to you ?—Simply saw it. He had it in his hand; he opened it there. 35. The envelope only? —No, the contents. 36. What were the contents?—l cannot tell just now. I did not take much notice. 37. What did you see on the contents?—l do not remember. 38. How did you tell it was an invitation to an Orange meeting?— That was what I gathered. 39. Was there a ticket in the envelope?—l do not know; that was what he sent for, I believe.
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