POLICE COMMISSION

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1928, Page 5

POLICE COMMISSION

FURTHER EVIDENCE. I United Press Association—By Electric ' Telegraph—Copyright). .(Received this day at 11.25. a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 22. Archibald Bodkin, giving evidence before the Police Commission, took the public behind scenes in several famous murder cases. He mentioned the Vaquien murder, the Byfleet, the publican, Jones and Gutteridge case. Lee said apparently the police charged Browne and Kennedy with theft when they were really concerned about the murder. They had the murder charge up their sleeves but got at Browne and Kennedy by charging them with lesser crimes. Bodkin raised his hand in a gesture of protest, and said he could not accept the expression “Got at.” It was in a man’s own interest to explain the possession of a revolver at the earliest opportunity. Lee asked was it considered convenient when a man was suspected of a grave crime to charge him with a lesser offence, in order to have a better opportunity of questioning him. Sir Reginald Poole added: “In order to get him under lock and key.” 'Mr Bodkin replied: “There are cases when the police suspect a man, but if the police find he has committed 'other crimes it is their duty to arrest him. He can then be questioned regarding the other matter under lock and key.”

He added: “1 think this is a fifst rate procedure from the public viewpoint.” Bodkin emphatically denied the existence of the third degree, declaring judges 'never once sustained such a plea. Lee remarked that it was one person’s word against another’s. Bodkin replied: “It is the Court’s business to discover credibility.’ Poole suggested that a policeman’s good character helped him against a, prisoner.

Bodkin: “Put bluntly, that’s pei'jury.”

Poole: The safeguards do not prove a policeman does not commit perjury.

Bodkin expressed the opinion that it was unlikely an officer would deceive a judge, counsel, or jury. Poole nsked under what statute were the people detaine^l.

Bodkin : There is no statute. It is practice and common sense. Commissioner Pick: It is illegal. Bodkin; Tt is not illegal. Poole: It is not sanctioned by statute.

Bodkin: A great many things in our law do not have the sanction of the statute and a good thing too. Bodkin expressed the opinion that the police were fully competent to interpret the true sense of the people’s statements.

Lee said Bodkin was inclined to attribute superhuman powers to policemen. Few people were able to interpret the human mind.