Arrest of a Detective.

Manawatu Herald, 21 May 1896, Page 3

Arrest of a Detective.

A most extraordinary and painful sensation was created in Napier on Tuesday, when a well-known police officer, Detective Kirby, was arrested on a warrant from Wellington charging him with having in or about 1882 at Timaru feloniously threatened to accuse one John Herman of a certain crime with a view to extort

and gain money, and by threatening t^io a like manner, did cause the said John Herman to sign two cheques valued at £400 and £300 respectively.

The accused was brought before Mr Turnbull, S.M., on Tuesday afternoon, when, without offering any evidence, Sergeant Donovan applied for a remand to Wellington, whioh was granted. Kirby applied for bail, substantial •uretlei being in waiting, but the Magistrate said he would give him a ihorfc remand to Wellington, where ht could take his chance of getting bail there. It ii understood that this h not a private prosecution, but undertaken at the instance of the Government. Herman at the date of the summons was in business as a tobacconist at Timaru, but he soon after went to America, whence he returned only a few months ago. He was, it is said, met by an old friend, who had a grudge agaiust Kirby on account of an affair in Napier, and on hearing the circumstances this friend, it is alleged, communicated with the authorities, who, after enquiries, instituted the prosecution. — Press Association.