PSEUDO DETECTIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 79, 3 April 1928, Page 7

PSEUDO DETECTIVES.

CAUGHT IN PARNELL HOUSE. OWE ACCUSED APPEARS 'OH OTHER CHARGES* EVIDENCE OF A COMPANION."

Eric Malcolm Biel. (33)». £■' motor mechanic, who, together with Harry White (25) was arrested at 1 o'clock on the morning of February 21 last in a house at Stratford Street, Parnell, after having posed as detectives and demanded to search the house, is in trouble

again. Biel appeared at the Police Court this morning before Mr. W. R. McKean, RAI > charged with converting a motor car valued at £100, the property of William A. Shirly, to his own use, and another of stealing a tin of benzine, worth 8/8, belonging to Shirly. Accused pleaded not guilty,.and asked for a remand for a few davs.

Chief Detective Hammond did not oppose a remand provided that the evidence of White, who had come up from Hamilton, where he was working, was taken this morning. White stated that he met Biel for the first time, in a city hotel on the night of February 20 about 9 o'clock. Subsequently they both went to a dance hall in Beresford Street. While there Biel mentioned that he was a sheepfarmer from Hawke's Bay, and asked witness if he would go with him to a house in Parnell where he had been "taken down" for £10. As the hour was late, witness did not want to walk that far. Biel then said, "Oh. we have a car in town." He left the dance hall and returned 25 minutes later with a five-seater. In this they both went to Stratford Street. Before they went to the front door of a house, Biel suggested that they should both pass themselves off as detectives, and told witness to take his hat off, as he looked a likely detective and would pass better without his hat. Witness added that he and Biel were both arrested by the police at the house and had been punished for the offence. Witness thought, at the time, that Biel was genuine in all that he had told him. Holding up a hat, Chief Detective Hammond asked witness if it was his. It had been found in the car. White replied that it was his hat.

At this stage the hearing was adjourned until April 17.

Chief Detective Hammond said that Biel was at present serving a sentence of three months 1 imprisonment for breach of probation.

It will be remembered that on February 21 last White was fined £10, or one assuming the designation of a assumind the designation of a detective, while on a similar charge, Biel was convicted and discharged. He was also convicted and discharged for assaulting the occupier of the house lie had visited early in the morning.

It was also stated at that hearing that Biol had only been released from gaol on license, on November 9 last. White had no previous convictions.