A DETECTIVE AT WORK.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2466, 12 February 1881, Page 3

A DETECTIVE AT WORK.

Detective stories are always interesting, and who has not devoured the writings of Waters and of Vidocq ? Therefore when we hear of a detective in our midst unravelling a mystery as if it were at our own door we are sure to be interested. But let us get to our story. On Saturday last a stranger presented himself at the Masonic Hotel, St. Andrews, and confidentially imformed the astonished landlord that he was a detective officer come to look up a man who was “wanted” on a very serious charge and that he might have to stop at the Masonic some days. Mr Daily consented readily to the arrangement and the professional gentleman was supplied with board and lodging, and liquors for himself and friends, for he was a very jolly detective on the whole, a good judge of liquor, and fond of shouting. This sort of thing went on until the following Tuesday,when Mr Daily appears to have smelt a rat, and asked the detective to be good enough to settle his little account. The man of warrants cheerfully and promptly consented, and calling for pen and ink drew out a cheque for double the amount of his account, or thereabouts, remarking that he wanted some change, and Mr Daily could give him the balance. This the landlord did, his suspicions being lulled by the manner of the officer. The cheque was upon the Union Bank Dunedin and sad to say it proved a “ duffer ”it was valueless. It was signed John Quinn, and there being a detective in the force of the name of Qninn was partly the cause of Mr Daily being misled. Finding the cheque no good, Mr Daily com plained to the police, and the vigilant detective officer was arrested yesterday at the Waihao Forks Hotel and charged with forging Detective Quinn’s name to the cheque which Mr Daily received. The accused, who is a laboring man named Nolan alias Quinn, and not the least bit in the world like a detective in manner or appearance, was brought up before the Waimate Bench 3 7 esterday and remanded to Timaru, and he will make Mr Beetham’s acquaintance On Monday morning.