The Auckland Star WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1934. LESSONS OF THE CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 148, 25 June 1934, Page 6

The Auckland Star WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1934. LESSONS OF THE CASE.

For the cause that lacks assistance. For the wrong that needs resistance For the future in the distance, And the good thai ae cci ds>

New Zealand lias had the doubtful distinction of furnishing a number of murder trials of more than local interest. None of these, however, attracted so much attention abroad as will the ease that ended in the Auckland Supreme Court on Saturday. The way in which the crime was committed, the long and laborious search for evidence, the nature of that evidence, and especially the experts' portion of it —all these not only have invested the Bayly case with a public interest never equalled in our history, but place it in a position of its own in the annals of crime and give it unique scientific importance. It will be cited widely as a a example of patience and thoroughness in investigation and for the value of the scientific evidence adduced.

I From the point of view of crime detection 1 the case has two lessons. One is that nearly always hard work in detail is the basis of the detective's success. Brilliancy in intuition and deduction is seldom a substitute for the drudgery of search. Sherlock Holmes might be cited as an example of the armchair detective, but this would be unjust to his creator. Sherlock Holmes worked as hard upon his facts as any Scotland Yard man; it .\as Myeroft, his brother, who, with the better brain, was physically too indolent to scour London for evidence. The other lesson is the value of scientific equipment and training. The modern detective must, like his fellow professionals of earlier periods, be prepared to sweat freely in the interests of the law, but he must have the use of the special knoivledge and apparatus provided by science in recent years. It is significant that in the Sherlock Holmes stories there is no mention of telephones. To-day the use of wireless by the police is quite common. It must be borne in mind, however, that science helps the criminal as well as the polite. The contest between the two bears some resemblance to that between guns and armourplate.

It follows, therefore, that, while the limitations and weaknesses of expert evidence must be recognised, the expert witness is an integral and indispensable part of the police armoury. Behind him, however, there should be a well-trained and well-equipped body of detectives. The police who worked on the Ruawaro case —both the detective and the uniformed branch—deserve to be congratulated on their patience, industry and skill. Their success, however, need not prevent the suggestion being made that the department should make a thorough investigation of the organisation, training and equipment of the police force in respect' to the higher branches of crime detection. The detectives and constables sent to Ruawaro had to work with an equipment far inferior to that provided in England. Scotland Yard would cheerfully give us every assistance in bringing our detective, system thoroughly up to date. Finally, there is to be considered the drain of an investigation such as the Ruawaro case entailed on the strength of the force. At one time there were fi'fty police at Ruawaro alone, and perhaps a hundred more making inquiries in other places. From October to June the' case has engaged the attention of the police. It is obvious that the police who carried on in areas that supplied the Ruawaro contingent must have been gravely handicapped in dealing with crime. During the last few years many members of the force must have been strained well-nigh to breakingpoint by continued pressure of work. The Commissioner finds the strength of the force small enough in normal times. When a case like this "breaks" it must bo seriously inadequate for all purposes. The Ruawaro case argues for additions to the personnel.