108

W. C. ELLIOTT.

F.-8.

40. The envelope that was delivered to Mrs. Stainton was delivered on the 3rd July. That was merely a request to her and other people at the same time to semi for tickets. The tickets were not sent until after that. So thai will mil do. you see. Was it tickets that Mr. Rusden had sent for thai he showed you? —Yes. 41. He could not have had tickets soul to him until some days after thai .' I hat was what I saw. That was how 7 I knew. 42. On the same day you delivered that envelope lo Mrs. Stainton did she not complain to you about it?— Yes. 43. On the same day?— Yes. 44. Was it not on the 3rd July?—] do not know. 45. [f she swore thai it was. would you deny that ! I do not know what day it was. 46. Would you deny it was the 3rd July?—] do not know what day il was. 47. I am sorry to be persistent, but 1 waul to And out exactly what you were shown by Rusden?—His tickets. IS. His tickets for admission lo the meeting? —Yes. 49. How many?—l think there were two. 50. Now, if ]' can prove that no tickets wen- sent out until a day or two after (he 3rd July, what then? Have you not made a mistake? —I have not made a mistake. That is all I know. Mr. Ostler: There was not a single ticket sent but, I am informed, until the sth July. Mr. Gray: Except these so-called invitation cards. Mr. Ostler: They are invitations to people lo apply for tickets. 51. Mr. Ostler.] What shape were (he tickets you saw ?—Square, I think. 52. Quite sure?—l did not lake much notice of them. 53. How did you know they were tickets?— Because he told me. 54. I thought you said he did not speak ? —I did not say he did mil speak. 55. We are beginning to learn what he told you. bet us hear what he (old you. What did he tell you?— They were tickets for the meeting. 56. Do you remember whether they wire anything like that [bell-shaped ticket held up for inspection]?— Yes; they were like that. 57. Quite sure?— Yes. 58. Mr. Gray.] Was there anything to direct your attention specially lo the shape of Ihe ticket, or what was on it, beyond what Rusden said ! —No. 59. You gathered the information, I'roni what he told you or showed you, lhal this had something to do with an Orange meeting? -Thai is so. 60. Did you see the wands "Orange Lodge" or "Orange meeting" printed on (he tickets? —No; 1 did mil go near enough. 61. Dill you see anything like thai [circular held up for inspection]?—No, 1 did not, 62. You believe it was a bell-shaped ticket, and two in number? Yes. 63. Have you any particular reason for remembering those circumstances?— \ should nol have remembered had mil Mrs. Stainton asked me and I told her. 64. Quite so; and what you (old her was derived from what was told or shown to you?-- Yes. Lancelot Ambrose Benjamin. Letter-carrier, Auckland, examined. 1. Mr.. Gray.] Whaf is your name/ — Lancelot Ambrose Benjamin. 2. Letter-carrier in the Auckland Post-office? —Yes. 3. Do you remember delivering a letter (o Mr, Henry Symons, Hillside Crescent? -I have no recollection whatever. 4. And you have no recollection/ —No. 5. He says you delivered to him this envelope : have you any recollection of it ?—None whatever. (i. And that he kept it the better pari of a week and then sent it back to the Post-office. You have no recollection, and your attention was not drawn to its condition ?—No. 7. In what state was that envelope when it was stamped—with flap in or out I —l have no recollection wdiatever of having it, so I cannot tell. 8. Can you tell by looking at it? -I cannot tell. lam not an expert at that. 9. Do you sometimes receive from the letter-carriers' sorters envelopes which are not closed? —Some time or other I might have. 10. Do you ever have envelopes minus the contents? —I have no recollect ion of receiving any, 11. Do vim examine them to see whether the contents are in or out? —I am generally busy; I have no time to examine that. 12. You deliver them as you gel I hem?— Yes. Mr. Ostler: No questions. John GREGORY Bailßy, Letter-carrier, Auckland, examined. 1. Mr. Gray.] You are a letter-carrier in the Auckland Post-office?— Yes. 2. Do you recollect, delivering a letter to Mr. Thomas Smith, Mount Eden, about, the 3rd July? —No; 1 have no recollection at all. 3. Is Mr. Thomas Smith, Mount Eden, on your round?— Yes. 4. And you have no recollection ?—No. 5. And therefore your attention was nol drawn to any particular letter on the 3rd July?— No. 6. Is it your experience that letters bearing penny stamps are sometimes given to you for delivery with nothing inside them?—No; I have never had any before. 7. Do you examine the letters to see whether they are filled or not?—No; we get too many. 8. Then you trust your letter-carriers' sorters to look after that side of it?— Yes. 9. You deliver the letters as you get them from the sorters?— Yes.