LAW'S LONG ARM

NZ Truth, Issue 1212, 21 February 1929, Page 4

LAW'S LONG ARM

Police Search For Batchelor Leads To Arrest In Port Melbourne FUNDS THEFT ALLEGED

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative)

Looking little the worse for his holiday, allegedly at someone else's expense, John Black Batchelor, the young Christchurch solicitor, who caused a sensation m legal circles last August by disappearing mysteriously and thereafter maintaining an unbroken silence, is back m his native haunts, but not of his own volition.

A CCOMPANIED by a police escort, jrV Batchelor, a few days ago, arrived back m Christchurch from Melbourne; and on the morning of his arrival he appeared before Mr. 1-1. P. Lawry, S.M., to answer a charge of the alleged theft of £986 from Leonard Percival Voice, a pelt classer, of Spreydon. . A Chief- detective Carroll applred for a remand till February 21, which was granted. "I would ask for bail if your worship pleases," said Batchelor, but his application was opposed by the chiefdetective, who reminded the court that the police had been hunting for Batchelor for the past six months. No bail was allowed, but it is understood that counsel, who has been engaged to defend Batchelor, will apply to have the matter re-opened. The arrival o f Batchelor was not anticipated by ma n y interested people, but there were a few collected about the back entrance to the law courts when Black Maria drew up to "•unload her daily cargo of prisoners. A battery of press cameras awaited the arrival of the accused solicitor, and,* instead of drawing the prison van up outside the gate as is the usual procedure, the van Avas driven into the yard and backed up almost flush with the back door of the courthouse, which successfully defeated the enterprising pressmen m their attempt to "shoot" the accused. Batchelor was apparently anticipating a warm reception from the,camera men, as, despite •the shelter he was afforded .by the police,- he darted quickly from the van to the court door, sheltering hia face with his hat.

Clean shaven, and wearing a wellcut suit, he stepped into the dock to suffer the ignominy of standing accused before his "learned friends of the most honorable profession" who also had gathered m goodly numbers m the body of the court, the. scene of Batchelpr.'s former triumphs. „„ Batchelor has been absent from Christchurch ..since*. the . evening of August 7 last. year." • ' "" ■"■■ '■■ ■"" '

The following day he was communicated with m Wellington by Mr. C. S. Thomas, acting for a client of Batchelor's, demanding his instant returjn to Chrjstchurch otherwise the matter was to be placed m the hands of the police.

Batchelor promised to return on the Friday of that we^k, but did not do bo, and a warrant was issued for his arrest by Leonard Percival Voice, who had entrusted a sum of £986 to Batchelor to pay to the vendor of a 1 house which Voice had bought. Months went by, and it became the general opinion that Batchelor had taken up his residence m Australia. That opinion was a correct one, for a few weeks ago a Christchurch professional man, holi-day-making m Victoria, Is reported to have recognised Batchelor .standing outside a lodginghouse at Port Melbourne. Subsequently Batchelor was arrested, and he was brought back to Christchurch at the expense of the members of the Canterbury L a w Society. The Official AsBlgnee at Christchurch informed "Truth" that the actual position of Batchelor's estate was not yet known, and he was unable to even hazard a guess at . the time it would take to disentangle his affairs.

A committee set up by the creditors to assist the assignee reported to the creditors recently that certain moneys believed to have seen lost were' actually/ secured, thereby reducing the deficiency, but the OfflclalAssignee stated as late as the end of last week that while the position was at present most indefinite, there would undoubtedly be a deficiency, though he was not m a position to estimate the extent of it. More than sixty creditors lodged proofs of debt when they were first called together. It is learned that further charges are likely to be preferred against Batchelor when he comes up for trial.