POLICEMAN IN THE DOCK

NZ Truth, Issue 1190, 20 September 1928, Page 2

POLICEMAN IN THE DOCK

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) AT 8.50 p.m. on the night of September 13 (unlucky number. again) the Auckland police arrested, a motor-driver, James Tate, aged 32. A little over an hour later,- two other arrests were made m connection with the same offence— arrests which created more than a mild sensation, , for one of the men apprehended was Constable Sydney Francis Waters (33) and the other an ex-constable, Thomas Francis Carroll (29), now a grocer. Last week the three men entered the dock of the Auckland Magistrate's Court to hear the charge that they had,, on August 29, ""wilfully ■ set fire to a certain building fixed to the soil, a shop and dwelling situated at the corner of Napier and Sheridan Streets." The first, accused to step into the dock Was ex-Constable Carroll, who looked pale, and unshaven. Tate followed; he proved to be a stockily-buil't man with red hair and "a ruddy complexion. Then came Waters, who had one hand bandaged. .'..', Lawyer Brodie appeared for Tate and Lawyer Sullivan for Carroll, immediately the charge was read, Chief-detective Hammond asked for a remand until to-day (Thursday). Bail was requested, and Magistrate Hunt, presiding, asked the chief-deteotive, "What have you got to say about it, Mr, Hammond?" "The charge is a serioute one." replied the ohief, "and there, is another charge of oonsplraoy pending." He went on to say that Tate was * man with absolutely no stake m the country and that m his case, more particularly, heavy bail was desirable. Tate's bail was finally fixed at £500, with two sureties of £500, and that of the constable and the ex-constable at £500, with two sureties of £250 each. Waters and Carroll did not return to the central station In the "Blaok Maria," but were esoorted separately by a deteo? tlve, with Intervals of several minutes between their departure. They left praotioally unobserved. • . ■ ' There were several sensational features about the plowing up of the shop In connection with which the allegations against the three men have been made. Carroll would appear to have purohased the grocery business, which was carried on at the shop, from one James Irwin about twelve months ago. He was to have moved m with his wife shortly, It is said, the former tenants having just moved out. About 2 a.m. the explosion demolishing the shop shook the whole neighborhood and— coming, as it did, after Carroll himself was alleged to nave been seen m the shop about midnight — somewhat intrigued the folk round about. When it was said later that three men had been seen to\drive away m a motor-car at great speed, immediately after the explosion, the mystery element gained some Impetus and it was generally thought that more would be heard of this unusual way ef opening up business. , Bensatlonal evidenoe Is expected to be given when the hearing takes place this week, a full account of which will appear m "N.Z. Truth."