A GROUNDLESS REPORT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1710, 13 March 1888, Page 2

A GROUNDLESS REPORT.

Auckland, March 10. The police in Christchurch appear to have been the victims of a hoax. The police were yesterday making inquiries after a well-known newspaper runner for manslaughter, in consequence of the receipt of the following telegram ; " Inspector Shearman, from police department, Christchurch—Paul Purohas-, one-arm man, Star runner, Auckland, reported to hare beaten Henry Hyland so badly in December last that he died. Hyland’s stepfather very anxious for particulars. Reply paid,” The matter borea very serious aspect and the case was placed in Detective Wa'ker’s hands. Tho detective saw Purchase, but he denied positively that he had ever nsed any violence to Hyland, or that he had been the cause of hie death j and not only did he do this, but he also took the detective to his residence in Chrey street, where he introduced him to Hyland, himself. He found that Hyland himself, who ie Purchase’s brother-in-law, lived in the tame house with him. Walker eaye young Hyland is ainetesn yean of age, and hu no recollection of his death or' resurrection• in December last; and has never been beaten yet. Purchase now talks of proceeding against the persons who are responsible for setting the report afloat.

THE EXPLANATION. The above message from Auckland require! some explanation, which, when given at one# disprove* the statement that the police had been hoaxed. It shows, on the contrary, that the Inspector of Police here acted. prudently in the interests of justice to ascertain whether there was any foundation for tha apprehensions of Hyland’s stepfather that the lad was dead. From what we have been able toi learn it appears tha stepfather either saw, or was told, that a telegram from Auckland in December last reported the death of a person answering to his stepson’s description. He was anxious to obtain authentic particular! on the subject, and telegraphed to Purchase, bat received no aniwer. This evidently increased his fears, and he interviewed Inspector Pender, who was asked to communicate with tha police in Auckland, as his request wquldhaye more weight than that of an ordinary citizen. Mr Pender promisee) to do «o qpon tfts condition that trie enquirer paid for the message, a suggestion which was at dnee accepted.- The telegram was sent in a purely business way, as many have previously been ent.—Press.