/etc/startmail  called from /etc/crontab does not work.
have crontab call /etc/fetchmail instead..
 Let me know if this works for you.. I do have to get to setting up a custom-template for this. 
 to test try as root  /etc/startmail  ...
 I get errors [can't try it now I don't want to mess with our system].  Post the error here if you get it. 
 then try  /etc/fetchmail & .