"THE DETECTIVE."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1758, 24 May 1913, Page 6

"THE DETECTIVE."

NOW IN CUSTODY,

SENSATION AT DANNEVIRKE.

astonishing case

(By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.} Dannevirke, May 23. lost Wednesday a man camei into tho Dannevirke "Evening Kcws Office, and gavo directions for ertrds to bo printed bearing the lettering "Detective b. J. Bainey. Department C, Christchurch. Yesterday morning fro proceeded to Mr. Hansom's establishment, displayed a card showing through tlio celluloid frame of a black pocket-book, and asked for a- motorcar to tako liim out to Weber. Mr. J<aiisom (who is Mayor of Dannevirke) said that he would endeavour to get a car for him and placed himself in communication with Mr. Mexted, a licensed chauffeur. He Charters a Motor-car. | The latter presently arrived, and tho "detective" boarded tho car. He informed Mexted that he was out after two jewel thieves who had made their way out to the coast, and he requested' Jlexted' to "keep the matter dark." ■ On arrival at Titree Point, the . detective" entered Grant's store, and asked n it would bo possible to dispatch a motorcar to the Akitio out-station. Here a peculiar thing occurred. The soi-disant detective was accosted familiarly under the name of Birclling by A local resident, but at once replied that there must be some mistake. 'He followed this remark up by showing his card. On being informed that a motor-car could not bo taken to the out-station ho approached a man named Scannell, a roadman for the Weber County Council, and hired his horse for .£l, paying tasa. While in.conversation with Scannell lie loaded a revolver which he had borrowed that morning from Messrs. Morgan and Co.. of Dannevirke, on tho assurance that he was a police officer from Department C, Christchurch. 'He left Titree Point about 1 p.m. on horseback and directed the chauffeur (Mexted) to wait for his return. Ho came back at 7 p.m.. and boarded the car to return to Dannevirke.

Confides the Story of tho "Arrest" to the Chauffeur. On the rim home he told Mexted that ill,is mission had been successful. According to the story told a big military ball had been held in Christchurch in March, and three men had secured between .£lO and .£SO worth of jewellery from Messrs. Stewart Dawson and Company on approbation. Willi this they had decamped. Ho went on to sav that he had searched the lint on tho Akitio out-station, and had secured jewellery under the bed. He added that two men had been living in this hut. and one of them had sail,ed for Wellinetoii " from tho coast in s.s- Ripple. The other was working on Jlessrs. Toxward and Gray s-sta-tion, and the "detective" added that be had to go there to arrest him. He had, ho said, communicated by telephone with the constable at Pongaroa, who hajl ridden over to take charge of tho prisoner. He further confided to ' Moxted that ho had the jewellery in the car, and that he intended remaining in Dannevirko till Monday to see whether he could pick up a third suspect.' Mexted said that his charge for tho trip would be .£B, _ and the "detective answered .that that would be' all right, as he would send a voucher to Wellington for the money in the morning. Early this morning "Detective Rainey, Department C. Christchurch," again called on Mr. Ransom. He said that he desired 'to purchase a stock-whip with a loaded handle. He was shown a number of whips/ and, having selected one, asked if discount was not allowed to a member of the force. Whether any such discount ■ was allowed, Mr. Ransom does not say.

The "Detective" Arrested. Somo time, after the whip had been bought, Sergeant Black and Constable Potter presented themselves at Mr. Ransom's establishment, and asked for particulars regarding the Mayor's mysterious customer. They intimated also that they intended to effect an arrest Mr. Ransom replied that that was their concern, and added that the man was powerfully built.. He had shown .the loaded revolver at Weber, and he had just bought a loaded stock-whip. The arrest was effected at tho Club Hotel. Here Mexted (the chauffeur) invited "Detective Rainey" to have a drink, and. while he was at tho bar, he was smartly seized by Constable Potter, and conveyed to the police cells. No resistance was offered. It, appears that Sergeant Black's suspicions were aroused this morning by a telephone message from Constable Richards, of Pongaroa, who said that a mysterious "detective" had been in the neighbourhood. Reference to tho Police Gazette showed that there was no '."Detective Rainey" in tho force, and, in view of the suspicious ~ circumstances .attending the trip to W T ebor, Sergeant Black determined to placo the man under arrest. At the police station accused gave his name as Ernest Poland Birdling. He i 9 a man of fine physique, and was exceptionally well dressed. He was carefully searched, but tliero- was no trace of jewellery in his belongings. Accused is alleged to be well-known in the Weber district, where be. is said to havo worked for the Weber County Council. He then went nnder the name of Birdling. He left Weber about two months' ago, and is since said to have run a motorcar in Christchurch'. His mother is said to reside in that city. Birdling will probably be brought before the Magistrate's Court at Dannevirko to-morrow morning.