In cases where the evidence is conflicting, the characters and antecedents of the parties concerned may probably be important elements for consideration.
14. In making investigations bear in mind that any person who haw been detected in one dishonest act may probably have been guilty of other dishonest acts, and that your enquiry should therefore cover, not only the particular case under investigation, but other irregular or fraudulent proceedings, which it is possible may have been committed by the party suspected. This point should be particularly remembered in regard to offices transacting Money Order and Savings Bank business.
15. You have authority, for the purpose of any official enquiry or investigation it may be your duty to make, to apply to any Judge of the Superior or Exchequer Court of Canada, or of the Superior Court of the Province of Quebec, or of any one of the Superior Courts of either of the Provinces, or to any Judge or Stipendiary Magistrate in and for the Territories, for an order that a subpœna be issued from the Court or Magistrate, commanding any person therein named to appear before you at the time and place mentioned in the subpœna, and then and there to testify to all matters within his knowledge, and (if so required) to produce any document or thing he may have in his possession relative to such enquiry or investigation. And any witness may be summoned from any part of Canada, within or without the ordinary jurisdiction of the Court. Judge, or Magistrate issuing the subpœna,—any reasonable travelling expenses being tendered to any witness so subpœned at the time of such service. And any person thus summoned who may neglect or refuse to appear, or refuse to give evidence or to produce the papers demanded of him, may, by order of the Court, Judge or Magistrate who issued the subpœna, be taken into custody and imprisoned in the common gaol of the locality, as for contempt of Court, for a period not exceeding fourteen (14) days.
16. You have also authority to examine any person on oath or affirmation on any matter pertinent to any investigation you may make; and such oath or affirmation may be administered by you to any person you may so desire to examine.
17. You and any officer under you having the rank of Assistant P.O. Inspector, have authority to require any Postmaster or Assistant Postmaster in any Post Offices, Mail Contractor or other person in the employment or service of, or undertaking to perform any duty or work for the Post Office Department, to make and sign an oath or declaration in the following form, or to a like effect.—
I (insert the name of the person and the capacity in which he is employed in or by the Post Office) do solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, (or declare if the person is one entitled to declare instead of taking an oath in civil cases), that I will faithfully perform all the duties required of me by my employment in the service of the Post Office, and will abstain from everything forbidden by the laws for the establishment and government of the Post Office Department in Canada, so help me God.
Signature of person taking oath or declaration.
The oath (or declaration) was (sworn or made) and subscribed before me,
the day of 187 .
Signature of P.O. Inspector, or Asst. P.O. Inspector,
as the case may be.
18. When a formal investigation is necessary, always give due notice to the complainant or complainants, and the party or parties complained against, of the time and place at which the investigation will be held.