SPOKE FRANKLY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 8, 2 October 1937, Page 4

SPOKE FRANKLY

•Pre«p A«sociation.)

Wrongful Arrest in Christchurch LETTER 0F COMPLAINT

(By Telesrraph-

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. The extraordinary case of wrongful arrest of Mr Frank Hickinbottom, a well known and respected resident of Christchurch, who was arrested in his own shop as a, "burglar," and was severely manhandled by a young constable before he was released, has had a sequel. Mr W. H. Joyce, registrar of the Christchurch Technical College, who, on identifying Mr Hickinbottom, was asked by the arresting constable. "Can you certify yourself," has addressed the following letter to the guperintendent of police, Mr A. Oameron. "I desire in the public interest to draw your special attention to the followingi : I attended a session of the Canterbury Chess Club last evening, and having occasion to go downstairs, saw the tailor, Mr Hickinbottom, with whom I have had a nodding acquaintance for many years, struggling in the heavy grip of Police Officer 136. Mr Hickinbottom and a woman unknown to me, but who appeared to be Mrs Hickinbottom, were loudly expostulating. "I naturally asked what was the trouble and Mr Hickinhottom appeaied to me to idcntify him, which I readily dfd, My identification was not accepted by the constable; he demanded to know who 1 was. 1 told him I had been registrar of the Christchurch Technical College for the past 18 years aud was well-known throughout the city. I further produced my cheque hook and the college keys, and "an account addressed .to myself. All this by no means satisfied him, and he continued to attempt to drag the very unwilling tailor away. "I then challenged the constable to come upstairs with me to the Chess Club rooms, where a dozen" members could identify Mr Hickinbottom. This he refused to do. By this time several members, attracted by the noise, had come downstairs, and as I had an important game I left them. 1 admit my temppr was also rising and I told your man pretty frankly what I thought of him. I am only relating the facts as I know them. Of the incident that induced your man to take Mr Hickinbottom in charge I know nothing, but it appeared .to be a question of identity only." Inspector Cameron said to-day that the circumstances .were being investigated.