AN EVENTFUL CAREER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 285, 2 December 1925, Page 10

AN EVENTFUL CAREER.

COMMISSIONER McILVENEY. RAPID RISE IN THE FORCE. DETECTION OF CRIMINALS. SOME NOTABLE CASES. (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. The rise of W. B. Mcllvcney in 32 years from junior constable to Commissioner of Police has been marked by signal service in tlie detection of criminal . Mr. Mcllveney is a native of Greymouth, and a son of Mr. Bernard Mcllveney, a goM miner of that district. Starting* life as a school teacher in 1881, he joined the Post and Telegraph Department in 1885. but left three years later in order to go to Australia, where he was in commercial life for three years. In 18!)0 he returned to New Zealand with his family to the goklfields on the West Coast, and in 1891 was elected as councillor to the borough of Kumara, a position which he held until he joined the Defence Department in October, 1802. Jn 1803 lie was transferred to the police force, joining up at Dunedin. Two days later he was transferred to Invercargill, where he entered the detectivebranch, and in that sphere lie has been associated, during a brilliantly successful career, with some of the most notable criminal cases in the Dominion.

Reefton Murder Case. He began his detective career with the famous Minnie Deans baby farming case at Winton in 180.3, and live years later was the principal factor in discovering the culprit in what was known as the Chinese murder case at Reefton. It wa3 at first believed that one murder had been committed, but a second was discovered through a remarkable incident in Court. When the accused Chinaman was called to answer a charge of murdering one Lock Teoi, he replied: : 'L no kill Lock Teoi, I no kill Lou Quai. Englisheeman, he kill them." This statement led to further police activity, and to the discovery, many mile 3 from any habitation, of the remains of a second victim. Mr. Mcllveney conducted inquiries into the Tapanui murder, where the victim was a Chinese gardener, and in 1908 he prepared evidence in the notorious Westport murder, where Burke was kicked to death in a stable. Two seamen were arrested, and Mr. Mcllveney, who was on the headquarters detective stall', was sent to the district to conduct an investigation. The arrested men were convicted of man 1 daughter, and the principal witness was jubsequentiy convicted of perjury. There ■a-as a further development as the result of Mr. Mcllveney's activities. The convicted perjurer admitting his complicity : _i Burkes death, and was sentenced for manslaughter.

■ • Noted Ohinemuri Case. A licensing inquiry out of the track of usual detective work, but of immense public interest at the time (1909), was what was known as the "Ohinemuri licensing bribery case." Allegations were made that the Licensing Committee had been bribed to secure the removal of a license from Paeroa to Waihi. Judge Sim was appointed a commissioner to hold the inquiry, but, on appeal to the Supreme Court, the commission was declared ultra vires, the principal reason being that such an investigation could not legally take place if the commissioner was to be empowered to force witnesses on their oath to make statements which might incriminate themselves. So serious a matter could not be allowed to rest at this stage, there--fore the Commissioner of Police, by direction of Sir John Findlay (then Attorney-General) instructed Mr. Mcllveney to make an investigation. He did so. The result was reported to the Government, and the principal parties, but it has never been made public. The detective's report was evidently accepted as sound, and the matter .was never again iai_ed.

The Onewhero Murder. The new commissioner has had more than the usual share in murder investigations. When he was appointed subinspector in Auckland in 1!)15, he took charge of the case against Real, the Onewhero murderer, who killed his sister-in-law afid infant child, and then escaped into the bush. Air. Mcllveney on that occasion was associated with a detective oflicer who is now Sub-Inspec-tor Hollis. They had to organise a great round-up, with the assistance of settlers from a radius of twenty miles, a big area of bush being circled, and' the hunters coming closer to the point where Iveal was believed to be hidden, he was discovered snugly ensconced in a natural crow's nest on a tree commanding a good view. When pursuit became hot he dived into the bush, but was captured after an exciting chase among fallen timber.

Mr. Mcllveney's last big criminal case resulted in the conviction and hanging of.Dariiel'Richard-Cooper for child ipurder in a Wellington suburb. This was an extraordinary case, which necessitated the digging up of the whole of a large section around Cooper's house. At one stage the police, who had found the body of a child, came across another, which they had not suspected to bo there. The case was brought home to the culprit largely through Mr. Mcllveney's 'knowledge of medical jurisprudence. It was built'up in a most painstaking manner, and the trial was very lengthy, accused being ultimately convicted in respect to one of the children.

Good Work in Strike Period. The commissioner's 'most recent service was his aole organisation -of the protection for free labour to man ships held up in Wellington, this being done with the minimum of disturbance, though some events showed that less capable or more provocative arrangements might have had serious" results. m also had charge of the administra- ___* ° £ * the war regulations for the dnri, « Sl)ll)s and L ' lU "° at Wellington the r--. . -_- r ' and in 10 - 3 h <= visited taiidn^. 81 .^, 65 th « view to obo* tt_ po_r'. ht iUt ° tllo organisation BfifcifWjin that° country. «y,lo_fi_7° n IUS return i! 1 J*nuha « held until h^r.* 011 ' a J>o ß ition he Z_ 1B P rese »t appointment.