A BLACK MUSEUM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2137, 12 March 1908, Page 2

A BLACK MUSEUM.

TO BE ESTABLISHED IN WELLINGTON.'

(Special to Times) 1 !

WELLINGTON, March 11. Air. Diiinio, Commissioner of Police, is forming a museum of crime, on similar lines to the “Black Aluseum” at Scotland Yard. Air. Dinnie’s assortment is quite a small one yet, but a much larger and more thrilling collection, says a “Dominion” representative, may soon be added to it, and even the germ of the museum is imposing. The articles are arranged effectively, and with explanatory labels, in a large case erected over the Commissioner’s mantel-shelf in his office, and they consist largely of revolvers of various sizes and patterns, taken from desperate criminals. Any of these might have meant a constable’s or detective’s life. The revolver used in a wounding case at Napier severla years ago has beside it a most-bloodthirsty looking knife, also taken from the assailant, and a mask and •an electric lamp, make a very interesting memento of a Christchurch burglary. The -mask is simple, yet effective, a piece of black rag with tattered edges and two irregular holes for eves; a -paper covering for the head being attached to keep the mask in position.

A story is connected with the revolver, electric lamp, chisel and file, which survive a burglarious adventure in Christchurch. The burglar might have been quite safe, but he left his finger print upon the chisel and the innocent tool falling into the hands of the police, effectively betrayed its master. The revolver is -a very neatlittle weapon, and beside it is a bundle of five cartridges. A burglary at Amberley perpertrated by more'than one man,‘who met with their due rew r ard, yields for a memento two very serviceable-looking revolvers, one of them accompanied by a bundle of six cartridges. A photo of the bicycle which played an important part in the Papakaio murder case, and a score or so of bogus half-crowns with which some Wellington citizens were once deceived (though sumo of them are crude enough imitations) aro also in the collection. The museum, however, will assume its real glory when Air. Dinnic is able to add to it a much larger collection of exhibits made by a Canterbury resident, whose vocation is connected with the administration of justice. This collection also, is not a public one, but is known to a very few, and the writer of the “Dominion” article happens to have seen it. It fills, lie says, a fairly large room where one would hardly care to,spend a night, and if they could sneak, every article in this collection, “could a t.ile unfold, whoso lightest word would harrow up thy soul.” Here is a portion of the rope with which a certain New Zealand murderer was hanged, together with the dross worn by his woman victim when she met her death. Here also, preserved in spirits, is a ghastly human hand, the famous “severed hand” which formed the centre of a remarkable Canterbury mystery. A human hand was found on one of the beaches between Goodley Head and Sumner. It was contended that the hand had formerly belonged to a man whose life was heavily insured, who, it was presumed, had mot his death bv drowning on tho beach. A claim was made for the insurance money, but suspicions were aroused, and the supposed dead man was found hiding, and very much alive. The attempt to cheat the insurance company failed, but so jar as memory serves, no one ever learned for certain where the hand came from, or how it was obtained. Exhibits in connection with a ghastly baby murder case, and photographs and weapons of various criminals, are among this choice collection, which Al. Dinnie hopes to receive soon, as a free gift, in accordance with a promise of the owner.