DETECTIVE MILLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 231, 18 February 1913, Page 4

DETECTIVE MILLER.

j SENT TO ROTOROA. OUT BEFORE lIIS TERM WAS UP. IJIS STRANGE STORY. JSy Telegraph—l'ress Association. Auckland, February Jli, A ease surrounded by somewhat peculiar circumstances is at, present (according to the Star) the subject of considerable interesting correspondence with the Minister for Justice. The paper states tliat on September 27 last Mr. J. J\ Miller, until lately senior detective at Christchurch, was arrested at Onehunga at 7 o'clock in the morning, and before midday found himself at Rotoroa, condemned to a compulsory residence of twelve months on the island. How Miller happens to be in Auckland to-day, with the period of detention uncompleted, together with* the circumstances of the case, were explained by Mr. Miller to a Star representative. Miller states that he entered the service in J B%', and for 15 years was connected with the detective force, most of the period being spent in Auckland' and the latter part in Christchurch, where he held the position of senior detective. Up till the time of his leaving' the service .in June last his merit sheets were absolutely clean. At the time of his resignation, and after leaving the force, he came to Auckland, and entered into partnership on a drainage contract. On September 22 he went to the Avondale races, partly on pleasure and partly on business, as he was at the time negotiating for the position of racecourse detective. His arrest at 7 o'clock the following morning by Sergeant Rogersand Constable Smith came to him as a tremendous surprise, and both officers (h<? states) expressed surprise at being called up to execute such a warrant. He was taken to a private room at the Auckland Police Court, and was committed to Rotoroa for twelve months on the application of his wife, supported by the medical evidence of two doctors. He is prepared to swear that, with the exception of two short periods when onholiday leave, he has been a total abstainer since 10-09, and that since coming to Auckland he has never been under the influence of liquor. When brought before the Magistrate at Auckland ha asked for an adjournment of his case, in; order that he might have the services of a solicitor, and also bring evidence in refutation of the charge that he was an habitual drunkard. This application was refused, and he was committed to Rotoroa for twelve months.

Asked how he happened to he a I liberty at the present time, he replied that ho was really illegally at large. Repeated applications for a rehearing of his ease had resulted in his being brought to Auckland. On January 27 he was again brought before the flame Magistrate, and insisted on his right to eall evidence and be represented by counsel. The case was adjourned for two hours, and was then adjotirne sine die, and he had since been at liberty. In the meantime he had obtained written statements from the, two doctors (on whose evidence he was committed) that he was now in perfect bodily health. His wife had written asking for his release, the Salvsition Aimy officials'were baek> ing his claim, and his application for a rehearing of his case was being backed by Messrs. A. M. Myers, J. H. Bvadney, E. W. Lang, and J. S. Dickson, M.P.'s. His solicitor (Mr. .T. R. Lundon) had written repeatedly to the Minister for Justice, urging a rehearing, but always without avail, and the position as it stood was summed up in the fallowing telegram to* Mr. Dickson. M.P., from the Hon. A. L. Hcrdman:—"Your telegram to the Premier regarding the application that J. P. Miller be released should have been addressed to me. as Minisb'>fov Justice. The whole of the circumstances connected with the Miller case are at present under consideration bv a Stipendiary 'Magistrate, and the question of Miller's release cannot be considered until he returns to the island.''

Mr. Dickson's reply to the Minister ■was: —"Cannot appreciate extrf<>ie nrocrast.ination ami rert-taucism re Miller. What reason is there for further withholding justice? The Minister can act under Section 18 of the law. An nn~t«v feeling is growing that Miller has l>"cn unfairly treated."