OFFICIAL ENQUIRY.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 209, 13 November 1897, Page 2

OFFICIAL ENQUIRY.

CHARGES AGAINST INSPECTOR EMEKSON. (BY TELEGBAPH—OWN COHKFSI'ONDENT). Auckland, La3t Night. At 11 o'clock to-day an official inquiry by the Government Commissioner, Mr Kenny,S. M., into certain charges pi oferred against Inspector Emerson, in charge of the Hawko's Bay police district, was gone on with at the Minister's room, public buildings. Inspector Emerson and his solicitor, Mr Tole, were in attendance, and thee were also present : Alessrs Button, representing the parties who preferred the complaint, Haselden for fchn Auckland Prohibition League, and Win. Cooper and Adam Henderson, witnesses iu the CISC.

Commissioner Kenny stated that tha accusations against Inspector John Emerson were t') the following effect :—■ (1) That on or about the first day of May, 1897, on board the steamship Dingad e, ho did play cards and drink until two o'clock of the morning of Sunday the second day of the same month, when he retired to his cabin much worse for drink.

(2) That on Sunday evening, on the second day of May, he did at GLborne, when he had lauded to inspect the station and men, return to the Dingadee iu a state of intoxication, and was guilty of disgusting conduct in spitting about the floor of the cabin and using the wash hand basin as a urinal, being so much under the influence of liquor as to bo unable to remove his boots or get into his bunk without assistance, and lay on the floor until those occupying the same cabin caane to his aid. (3) That at the same time and place he used abusive and threatening lauguage to om of his fellow passengers, when remonstrated with for his disgust iug conduct in the cabin. And whereas it is alleged that on the several days or times to which these accusations relate the said John Emerson was an officer cf the New Zealand police force, on duty, and that by reason of these premises he has brought his said office into disrepute, and has been guilty of conduct which renders it unfit that he should cont'iiuc in the police force aforesaid. William Cooper, solicitor, gave evidence in support of the charges. Ho deposed that he was a passenger by the Dingadee on the occasion mentioned, and occupied the same cabin as Emerson. He said Emerson behaved in the manner described in the charges already set out. Adam Henderson, shipbuilder, who was also a passenger, deposed that he saw Emersou intoxicated, but did not see him behave in the manner described by Mr Cooper. Mr Tole then called G. M. Main, of the New Zealand Herald reporting staff, who deposed he was a prohibitionist and teetotaller all his life. He had known Emerson six or seven years, ever since the expedition to arrest Mahuki at Te Kuiti. He had frequently met Emerson in Auckland at all hours of the night, but had never seen any trace of liquor on him, and had never heard or him being drunk until the present charges came up. He had heard the Rev. Mr Isitt making similar statement* against a police officer, and on hearing that Emerson was the person referred to he went to Mr Isitt and expressed his surprise at hearing such statements made, and said his personal experience of Emerson was very much to the coi.traiy. The enquiry was adjourned until 10 o'clock to-morrow morning.