REWARD FOR POLICE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1079, 17 September 1930, Page 16

REWARD FOR POLICE

CHRISTCHURCH FIREBUGS’ ARREST DIVIDED AMONG FIVE MEN TIIE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Tues. The Minister of Justice, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, announced today that it had been decided that the reward of £250 offered jointly by the council of the Fire and Accident Underwriters’ Association of New Zealand and the State Fire Office in connection with the incendiary fires at Christchurch last year will be paid to the members of the Police Force who were instrumental in securing the arrest and conviction of offenders. Up to the time of the arrest of the •Gray brothers on the night of December 18, 1929, by Constable. A. I*. Gillum. the police bad no information as to the identity of the ineendiarists. The Grays, who were armed, were arrested single-handed by a young constable while one of them was actually engaged in breaking into a building. The circumstances of the arrest reflected great credit on Constable Gillum, who displayed marked I intelligence, coolness and courage, j said the Minister. As a direct result of the arrest evidence to convict the I Gray brothers of a series of incen- j diary flres and other crimes was secured and they were sentenced to ! a lengthy period of imprisonment. In accordance with the Recommendation of the Commissioner o‘f Police, Mr. W. G. Wohlmann, Constable Gillum, who was primarily responsible for the result, would be paid £220. and the balance of £3O would be divided between the following members of the force who subseq*mt to the arrest obtained evidence Solicit was presented to the court at the trial of the offenders : - —Detective-Sergeant Young, £9; Detective Findlay, £9; ActingDetective Halcrow, £9; Sergeant Harrison, £3. Although a Christchurch ’civilian claimed the reward on behalf of his son, investigation had shown that neither he nor his son nor any other person unconnected with the Police Force supplied any information leading to the conviction of the Gray brothers.