A Marvellous Detective.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 63, 18 March 1904, Page 4

A Marvellous Detective.

"SHERLOCK HOLMES" IN HEAL LIFE. On Nov. yi there retired from Scotland Yard, after thirty-two years of splendid service, Superinleut Melville, whose life tho revolutionaries have so ol'leu attempted to take, but who was able to outwit them all, unci retire in good health from a ' position in which lie has made a record that would put that of Sherlock Holmes in the shade, did he care to write that record. A CHARMED LIFE. The whole fraternity of conspirators dreaded the name of Melville, the man of indomitable courage and ingenuity, whose eyes ranged Eurjpe for political fanatics and desperadoes, and who was the protection of crowned heads. Of all his stirring e: neriences, Mr Melville regards as his most perilous adventure a light ho had with Francois, one of Hie Anarchists concerned in the blowing up of the Cafe Very, in l'aris. Having tracked this man from Soho to Poplar, he, and some, detectives burst into his bedroom at midnight. Francois snatched up a revolver and a dagger that lay on the table, fought desperately, and fired three diots point blank at Melville, missing each time. When the detectives overpowered Francois, his wife caught up the revolver and fought like a tigress. Eventually the lively couple weru pinned to the floor, the detectives literally sitting on them. SCENE AT SCOTLAND YARD.

Occasionally Anarchists had the cool impudence to visit Mr Melville at the Yard. Whilc_!.Hlking there with one of them, he observed the muzzle of a revolver gleaming in bis visitor's breast pocket. Taking no apparent notice, Mr Melville waited his opportunity, seized the weapon, administered a sound thrashing to the astounded Anarchist, and bundled him into the street, not troubling to prosecute. Later he received a letter of thanks.

It was Melville who, in 1892, discovered the nefarious plot in London to follow gentlemen from their clubs and chloroform them in trains. While at work on this conspiracy, he arrested a man at an Anarchist club in Soho, and a pear-shaped model for making bombs was found at this culprit's lodgings. Through his arrest the Walsall Anarchist bomb factory was discovered, and an Vlnglisb. Anarchist was convicted of inciting to murder the Home Secretary, Mr Justice Hawkins, and Mr Melville himself. It was Melville and his men who made the memorable raid on the Autonomic Club, where there fell ir to the hands of the police a mass of information whereby Anarchy in J rent Britain has since been practically under the heel of the law.

Ten years ago, while going home with his wife. Mr Melville recognised the French Anarchist Mcunicr on the platform at Victoria station. The Anarchist fired, but the alert .'.elective soon secured him. .Mcunicr was a fellow-conspirator of the notorious Ravachol, and both had to do with the Cafe Very outragInto his well-earned r.-tiremrnt Mr Melville carries what the forces of Anarchy may well lie pardoned for "??gut'ding as a charmed life.