SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A POLICEMAN.

Evening Star, Issue 3644, 27 October 1874, Page 3

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A POLICEMAN.

Under the heading of “ Barbarism in a Christian Land,” F. R. Bust writes to the ‘ North Otago Tiroes,’ complaining in strong terms of the conduct of Constable Hackett, whom he charges with having, after he had arrested a man, taken him by the throat, jumped upon his stomach with both knees! and, * when tired of so inhumane a mode of exercise, taken the poor unfortunate by both sides of the cranium, and practised perpetual motion by striking his head as forcibly as possible on a hard metalled or clay road.” Mr Bust winns up his letter by saying : “1 shall have no difficulty in producing at least twenty respectable persons, who, with myself, were eye-witnesses of the most cruel and barbarous piece of brutality I could ever believe a white man guilty of.” To the letter was appended the following editorial note “ The above letter reached us late on Wednesday evening, and was held over for that reason, and also on account of the gravity of the charge made. . We deemed it our duty to make inquiries before giving it publication, and the result is a belief that, in the public interests, the matter should be inquired into.”

Cur Oamaru correspondent informs us that the statement made in the letter is partly questionable, though vouched ! or by some respectable citizens. Tho p ■■liceman referred to says that no undue violence was used,”