CASE OF DETECTIVE MILLER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1676, 17 February 1913, Page 8

CASE OF DETECTIVE MILLER.

SENT TO ROTO ROA-

OUT BEFORE HIS TERM WAS UP« u ■. i , . HIS STRANGE STOld.' (By Telegraph.—SpeoiaJ Oomspindent.) l Auckland, Fobrviary 18. A case surrounded by somewhat poouliar oircumstances is at present (according to "Tho Star") tho 6ubject of ooiisiderablfl . interesting correspondence with' tho' Minister for Justice. ■ -i 'l'ho paper states that on September 27 litst Mr. J. P. Miller, until lately 6enior detective at Chmt'church, wait, arrested at Onehunga at 7 o'clock in th«[ morning, and before mid-day found himsfclf at Roto Itoa, oondemncd to a compulsory residence of twelve months on tlie island. How Miller happens to bo in (Auckland to-day with the period of detention un« completed, together • with the! circum.. stances of tho case, were explained by Mr. Miller to a "Star" representative. Miller states that he entered tho service in 1696, and for 15 years was eounocbed with the detective force, mosil of tilt period being spent in Auckland and tht latter part in Christchurch, whore ha . held the position of sonior detoitivo. Bp till the time of his leaving the; service in - Juno last his merit sheets wore absolutely clean. At the time' of his resignation, and after leaving the force, ho camo to Auckland, and entered into .partnership on a drainage contract. On Sejitembor 22 . ho went to the Avondale races,!partly on pleasure and partly on business, Jas ho was. at tho time negotiating for tho position - of racecourse detective. His arrest at' 7 o'clock tho following morning by Sergeant ltogors and Constable Smith camo to him as a tremendous surprise, and both officers (ho states) expressed surpriso at being called/upon to execute suoh awarrant. Ho was taken to a private room at the Auckland Polico Court, and was committed to Roto Roa for twelve months on tho application of his wife, . supported by tho medical evidence of two doctors. Ho is prepared to swear that, i with the exception of two short periods when on holiday leave, ho has been a total • abstainer sinco 1909, and that since' oom« ■ ing to Auckland he has never been underthe influence of. liquor. Whcn s brought before the' Magistrate at Auckland h#; asked for an adjournment of his case ia order that ho mfght havo the services of ; a solicitor, and' also bring ovidonoo ia refutation of tho charge that he was an habitual drunkard. This application waj refused, and 110 was committed to EoW lloa for twelve months.

Asked how : he happened to' bo at liberty . ■ at the present timo, ho roplied that he was really illegally at large. Repeated . applications for a rehearing- of his case ' had' resulted in his boi'ng brought to. Auckland. On January 27 ho was again , brought'before tlio eamo Magistrate, and insisted on his right to call evidence and . be represented by oounsel. The case was adjournod for two hours, and was then adjourned sine <lie, and ho had sine* been at liberty. In tho moantimo ho had obtained writ-. ten statements from the two doctors (on whoso evidence ho was" committed) : that he was now in. perfect bodily'health. Hij wifo had .written'asking foe his. release, the Salvation Army officials were backing his clajm, and his application for a ro« hearing of his ease was being backed-byi Messrs. A. M. Myers, J. H. Bradney, F. W, Lang, and J. S. Dickson, M.P.'s. v '. His solicitor (Mr.-J. K. Lundon) had written, repeatedly to the Minister for Justice,.'. urging a rehearing, but always, without avail, and the l position as it v stood was summed up in tho following ' telegram to Mr. Dickson, M.P., from tho Hon. A. L. Hcrdman"Your telegram •' to tho Premier regarding tho appliestion that.J».;Pi'.Miller,»bo released should have been addressed to me, as Minister for Justice. The wliolo of tho circum-, stances connected with .the Miller . . aro,'ot prosput. under, consideration by-ai, : Stipendiary Magistrate, and tho "question's , . of Miller's release, cannot bo considered; Until ho returns to tho island." •' , , Mr. Dickson's reply .to tho Minister was"Cannot appreciate extreme proerastination and red tapism ro Miller, : . What reason is there for further with-. ... holding justicoP The Minister, can act i under Section 18 of tho law. An uneasy. . feeling is growing that Miller haß been ~ unfairly ttcated."- • , ''