EXPLOSION AT BRISBANE

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1927, Page 4

EXPLOSION AT BRISBANE

ATTEMPT #0 DESTROY EVIDENCE, SYDNEY, Aug. 19. One of the most sensational episodes in Australian police history during recent .years was tile wrecking early last Sunday morning of the office of tho criminal investigation branch of the Brisbano Poiico Department by an explosion that shook practically the, whole of the city. Though there mayj have been somo deeper motive behind the outrage, the detectives formed the! opinion that tho explosion was engin-J cored to destroy evidence then in the i office of the guilt of some person who j was to conic up for trial shortly. f-cx-ing on this assumption, they quickly arrested a minor, Alfred Orchard, 42 years, who had already been committed for trial on a charge of burglary. The detective office, situated at the corner of two streets, was reduced to wreckage. The whole of one wail was blown out stones being hurled to the opposite side of the street. The iron roof and rafters were lifted into tho! air and blown to atoms. When the

explosion occurred, bursts of flame leapt to the sky, and a shower of masonry and shattered woodwork and iron hurled through tho air, and strewed tho ground with 'debris. The force of the explosion was so terrific

that if, awakened a slumbering city. Reserves from the police barracks were aroused, and hurrying into their clothes, arrived at tho wrecked office in time to hold in check a largo crowd that had gathered. One detective, on night duty, was doling in his cubicle in a building detached from tho main office, and was found to ho suffering from shock. Another would have been light at the sent of the explosion had ■ lie delayed leaving on a. task a few minutes. RUIN AND DESOLATION. When the wreckage was examined by daylight, tho scene was one of ruin' and desolation. Tho building was formerly used as a. church manse. The middle section was a jumble of smashed timbers, broken timbers, and office furniture. In the property room, where were stored old records, and unclaimed good most ’ of them the recovered proceeds of robberies, the explosion and fire had caused groat damage, but few of the destroyed records wore of value. In a room used by clerks, typewriters, pigeon-holes, and files of documents relating to criminals and crime were piled in confusion. The most valued of the officer’s records —the finger-print museum—was not damaged.

It is believe that the explosion was caused by gelignite, with a lighted fuse attached, which had been flung through .a window of the property room. The fact that the latter was apparently the seat of the explosion led investigators to the conclusion that the person who caused it wished to destroy primarily something that the detective office held, and which was incriminating him in some other matter.