TAMPERING WITH JUSTICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 878, 13 August 1910, Page 3

TAMPERING WITH JUSTICE.

INSPECTOR GILLIES TO BE RETIRED. The effect of the report of the Police Commissioner on the subject of the recent irregularities at Christchurch Police Station is as follows ;—Between 10 and 11 o’clock on the night ol Saturday, the 7th May last, a Christchurch resident was brought to the Police Station on a charge of drunkenness, and his proper name was entered in the charge book. Early on the following morning (Sunday) he was admitted to bail and signed the bail book in his usual name. On Sunday morning a member of the House of Representatives saw the Inspector of Police for the purpose of arranging that the resident’s name should not be called in Court. The Inspector thereupon instructed the Station Sergeant to alter the name in the charge and bail book. The charge book was altered by striking out the name of the resident and inserting the name of "James Brown.” The page of the bail book containing the bond entered into by the resident was torn out and destroyed, and a fresh bond was taken and signed by the resident as “James Brown.” These are admitted facts. In view of the report and of the fact that Inspector Gillies is now ill, and will be for some considerable time unfit for duty, Cabinet has resolved that Inspector Gillies should be granted three months’ sick leave and thereafter three months’ leave of absence. Inspector Gillies will then retire from the police force upon superannuation. In January next he will have completed thirty-six years of service. His record, with the exception of the incidents reierred to in the above report, has been a very long, able and successful one, and entirely without blemish. WHAT ABOUT THE TEMPTER ? The man, who, in a certain degree is responsible for the unfortunate fall of a police officer who otherwise had a clean reputation, is a member of Parliament and represents Christchurch East, Mr Davey. This member, by the way, was in the running for the Chairmanship of Committees as the Government’s nominee and no doubt he would have been elected to this honourable position but for this unfortunate lapse. He took the first opportunity of expressing his sincere regret to the House for his indiscretion in tampering with justice in order to save a respectable (?) Christchurch J.P’s., name from appearing in the charge sheet. The result of his action is shown above and in our opinion he should be the last person to allow his name to be mentioned in connection with the Chairmanship of Committees. Christchurch East should also have something to say on the matter.