BURGLARY IN WELLINGTON.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3408, 12 February 1920, Page 5

BURGLARY IN WELLINGTON.

TAIHAPE BEWARE. There has been a mild epidelnic of thefts of colthing in the city for some Weeks past. various sources being tapped by the thieves in their endeavour To secure these high-priced articles. The most? popular huntingground has been the bedrooms of hotels and private hotels. but late on Friday night or during the early hours of Saturday morning about £IOO Worth of ladies’ blouses were removed from the premises of Miss A. M. Hitchings; -blouse specialist, at No. 76. Courtenay Place. The police. who are inquiring into the matter. believe that ingress was gained as the result of the remov-*1 of a Smfm Daneof glass at the rear ‘of the premises.

at QRITISH JUSTICE. ’ ’

SEN SATIO NAL ALLEGATION S.

FACTS BE-FORE MINIS'I‘EI{ FOR

JUSTICE.

AN INQUIRY ASKED FOR

An indictment on the 21d!1l'1I1iStI‘{1I'10nq of British ju.stic.e in Wellington was‘ made at the M.agistraJ'tc’»s Court on Tuesday, during the‘ hearing of char. ges arising out of alleged breaches of the Gaming Act. The defendant. was one of a number of men who were arrested recently in the "belief that they were infringing the said law. In each iiistmice the defendant was lodged in a police cell-for several hours, and according to counsel, Mr 1\I)/.e1's, they were not afforded the opportunity of securiiig bail, which, in all eases would have been fortheoiiiing.

The defendant before the‘ Court on Tuesday was Thomas Carrig, fa. young man who had served zit the front for four years, and was entitled :to wear the Meritol'ious Service Medal. He was charged with six breaches of the Gaming Act, in that he had loitered in Willis Street for the‘ plirpose of'betting.

On oath, Carrig said he had an un. blemished record in so far as .the laws of the land were concerned, but to his eousternlation at about 9 p.m. on J anuary 22nd he was arrested on the charges before the Court and "taken to the police station, where he was told he would have to remain——that “it was imperative” he remained in the cells overnight. Witness was then put int.o a cell with ‘a man who was verging on a state of delirium ,tremens, so he asked a constable if he could not Be placed in a cell with better company. The reply he received was: “VVhO the —— hell do you think you 'are‘.?’'' Mr Myers said it made his blood boil to think of the waythe administ.rati‘oll of British justice had been degraded in connection with the case before the Court, and other ca.ses*that had resulted from the recent. police raid. Here was a man with aigood reputation who could be found by the police at. a moment’s notice, and yet he had been arrested on a. summary charge at 9 o"c_lock at night, ,-and thrown into '3. cell with a drunken man. The police had not applied to a Amagis-. trate for a. Warrant~—-they knew that in the circumstancesyoue would not have been obtained~—but they had got one through ta. _._Tustice of the Peace. The arrest of a man such as the defendant; on, a summary charge was contrary to the traditions of British justice, and against the rule laid down by the Snpreme Court. He, counsel, irftended to place all the particulars before the Department of Justice, and to ask for an inquiry. '

The Magistrate said that on the mlatefial placed before him he could not say ‘rlxlat the pglice were Wrong in a.rrestin‘-: Carrig, but undoubtedly to obfain a warram and execute it in connection wifll a. summary allegation against a person of -good standing was" contrary to the usual pl'ac/rice. No doubt counsel was justifie(l' in asking for an inquil'y.—Ne\v Zealzmcl Times.