DUNEDIN POLICE SCANDAL

Bush Advocate, Volume XVII, Issue 131, 13 June 1905, Page 5

DUNEDIN POLICE SCANDAL

Salutary Sentences.

(Press|Association)

Dl'nedin, June 12.

The police scandal cases came before the^Supreme Court to-day, when Edward Quill, ex-constable, was tried on a charge of stealing various articles. Accused pleaded not guilty. The jury, after a quarter of an hour's retirement, returned a verdict of not guilty, and Quill was discharged.

Thomas Moses, 28, ajid James McDonald, 31, who had previously been found guilty, were then brought up for sentence. The Crown Prosecutor said. Moses was convicted in 1800 of theft from a dwelling, and received three months' probation. In 1895 he was convicted of shopbreaking, and ordered to come up when called on. He ihen went with a contingent to South Africa, and on return was appointed to the Permanent Artillery, and subsequently drafted into the police. The convictious were not known or he would not have been appointed to the police. As to McDonald, he had served in the police for seven and a half years, and there was nothing against him. Aloses was then sentenced to five years' and McDonald to three years' hard labour.

Oliver Henry Osborne was also sentenced to three years.

Tlie Crown Prosecutor stated during the ease that the Comniissiouei 1 of Police was satisfied that he had now got to the bottom of the case, and the following statement was hauded to the press for publication : — " It may be publicly stated that all other members of the force in any way implicated will be peremptorily dismissed from the service, and such changes made in the department at the earlist possible moment which will ensure the proper police protection to the citizens of Punedin and suburbs, and, I trust, restore their confidence and support, (signed) W. Pinnie, Commissioner of Police."