DEATH OF SERCEANT MACUIRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 792, 15 April 1910, Page 6

DEATH OF SERCEANT MACUIRE.

BODY'SENT TO WELLINGTON. '"■'INQUEST ON, SATURDAY. . ' (By Telocraph.— Press Association-.) ;• Palmerston. North, April 14. .Police-Sergeant, Maguire, who was shot in Hampton's garden on Sunday night by a man ..believed,. to have been the escaped prisoner Powellca, with whom lie had had a brief scuffle, succumbed to his ■ wound at 6 o'clock this morning. From the first it was recognised that the wound was a very serious one, but hopes were, entertained' that the "sergeant might pull through. On Tuesday night the patient ..was very restless, and his condition generally was not nt all favourable. On Wednesday it was much worse, but even then, hopes were entertained that the result would not, prove fatal, but tho sergeant was not a strong man physically, and the end came as Stated' above. The sergeant was not in'a condition for his .depositions, to., be taken. IBj Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Palmerston North, April 14. Very sincere regret is,, felt all over Palraerston and district at the untimely death of Sergeant Maguire, who passed 'away:at six o'clock'this morning. Eight from the-first the doctors held out no hope, so serious were the injuries. : ' A post-mortem examination was held this morning, nnd the body. was.sent to Wellington this An inquest will be held on Saturday, i

The police are blamed for some of their methods, but: thisr is because very few recognise the difficult task they have before them. Sergeant Maguire met his death in the performance of his duty, and the'public should appreciate the fact that -we have a body of men who are at any-rate not lacking, in pluck. or wherever there has been the remotest, rumour of Powelka being about, they have not hesitated for one moment-to take their lives in their hands and go straight on with their task.

The quiet, ,unassuming, yet' genial, manner of Sergeant Maguire won him many friends during his life in Wellington. His position in, the District Office was a trying one, but deceased was'invariably cheerful and willing'to meet an inquiry under any circumstances. He was a married man, and was about 42 years of age, and his two nearest relatives, - his father and his wife, were with him at the end. Sergeant Maguire served his apprenticeship to the police force in the Permanent Artillery. Ho put in two years in the Artillery in Wellington, and joined the force in 1894, when' he was stationed at Mount Cook. I'rom Wellington ho was transferred to Dunedin,' but he was lemoved to Wellington again about 1897, when he again took up.street duty at Mount Cook. Subsequently, in 1898, he - was attached to the District Office, .Lambton Quay, as a junior, clerk, under - Sub-Inspector Wright, and by ability and hard work gradually .rose to the position of district clerk, which position lie was given'in 1906, shortly after being awarded a-ser-geant's. stripes. ■ Deceased was universally, regarded ,?is, a, zealous, and efficient officer,, and .was. always '.one of the -first to extend a hand to .a'.needy comrade. Only, a :week ago..last 'night the local members of the force, foregathered at the police station to' bid -farewell to deceased, who was- given a presiU'tat;o;i by his comrades. Several years ago Sergeant Maguire underwent an upi-ration for appendicitis, and indoor'wort had begin'to tell on ■him.- -The. i-cneral of 'tis; /comrades';.was that he was taking-a ,wjsp'.step v in, to the cbuitry. •to ...build . up again. -Decease:! was a keen sportsman, and in his yoath was >i capable long-dis-tance Tunnsr. He had only been uorried for about five years, and leaves no family. ■■■"'■_ ""■-.-. .- '•■':>'■ ; ■ v ■■

It has been rumouredi'bhat Powelka is being actively assisted. ■;'■''

- Foxtion is not going to be,.behind-hand in- the matter of providing jowelka inxidents ' (says the "Evening Standard"). This one comes from the riyer port, and may be-taken for what.-it.,is,i worth. Aβ the-train from Palmerstan'W Foxton-was travelldng between Himatalngi and Motuiti on Wednesday.'-night.'the fireman alleges he saw a man' standing in ,, the middle of the read, and almost immediately ; there was a flash.'and the report of a weapon: On examination at Foxton it was : found;'that' soine'/paint had been knocked ofE..the cal) of' tie.; engine, apparently by >■ a/bullet.; - The- police have been communicated' with" 6a the matter. '.." . ■".'. •'" '.' '• ' '' '"'A' ' ■