MUSEUM OF CRIME.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 142, 10 March 1908, Page 7

MUSEUM OF CRIME.

AN IMPRESSIVE NUCLEUS. MEMENTOES OF DARK DEEDS. , , ;, !As ' the'v Indian'-- cherishes, his scalps it it' that tho 1 tracker' down : of crimes should ' take delight in the ' trophies of his The Commissioner of Police (Mr. W. Dinnie) intends to form a crimp museum. , A gruesome and. impressive collection it .will bo, judging from the nucleus that has been: already' brought together," and from' other articles. .that liavo .been promised. . Tho: museum .will' hardly ho a public'one;'-"if it -' - w;ere *to '--bp^-a"certificate, of sound iierves' , might' be- a'wisb condition of admission/But tho mementoes. of dark'. deeds' .wUl'-hay^'an interest for., tho men in'tho..police force who., v expose dark deeds, and for.them tho museum may even have somo inspirational and cxluca-. '.t-ivo value.. Thcj' spo. what their fathers .-' In this forco have done beforo them, and from ' some of tho exhibits they may 'learn a little of tho:'way,in which they did:,it". '

•. Mr v .Dinnib-did-not .claim any moral; or ediicativo * valuo' for ' tho.- niuseum, ; .When. a reporter's. cyo fell.Vupon ; ' tho nucleus *'yester : day'.?-" i".Tlie> Pressman gathered," 'from' sbme casual; statements',: that.' lie hopbd /to.' form a crime museum, , because, of. a professional 1 interest iii suclv trophies,' and - becaujp" thiis was a' natural ;thing. to. havo iii &' policevdepart-' mcnkVAt Scotland. Yard, \vhcuqo : 'Mr.. Dihnie hails; the ; '.' Black 1 Mii'sPum," as':it is callod', where every, style .of iinplcmcnt calr be' sWii that' lias; evor, dona the crirnej' tosether )yith'; specimens, of tho' qtiaint'drbss and' arms; worn, in' former times'; and ' grimmest' of. *exhibifej "ancient qasts taken ,by tho officials of tho heads'of 'briiriinals \vhb had'fieen 'hanged; say,'.;- lio. such.:cast3' .aro tajsen nowadays. • . .. -V'"J ■ '

CERIfI QF THE MUSEytfl. V

, Mr. DinnieV assortment is ! quite a small. .01,10 yeti b\lt' a much larger and.'morb. thrill- - . ing coUcction,': which tli'o'. Pressinan has also . sepn, % added', to,'it;: and. even ■ • the.vgerrii'iof the museum :is/imposing. r 'The' - articles 'are';' arranged qffectivelyand with' explanatory . labels'' in a,:large,' case" erectedover the Commissioner's mantelshelf in hia ■ officer' . They' 'consist largely, ofrevolvers,- of various sizes'and' patterns; taken from'ties-, perate criminals. ~ Any' one; of' •' nave meant a,constable's or detective's life. .The,i revolver used in a wounding case at; Napier;' 's'eyoral .'years'.ago,': h'ik'besido','lt:a ,'. most' blood-thirsty.' looking knife, also'': taken frpm thpVassailant. .'A mask 1 'and f. lamp malie' r f vety' a, Christchu'rch' .burglary. ■ ' The ' mask'' ik simple yet" effective; 'a' .piccq.' of'' : blaclc' tattered 1 - edges. and two irregular holes for pyes, a paper covering for tlib head bsmg attached: to. keep :tho mask ill positibn.; A■ ■ stoty. is connected frith tho' revolver, electric'lamp, chisel and file, which survive a! burglarious, adventure 111 Ghnfitohilrch. , The irarslSl^'Wlglie'-'hlfcv«c{>b'eod • ho;, ileft; his ;fingdr-priii_t ; , iippii the- chiiiel; ;and:tlfa i innocent tool, falling into.' thp' 'lianas'' of -ihe jiolide,! effectively; ibctrayedJtV'master.,'The revolver :is a very neat little "weapon, and besidp' it'is ,'a bundle' of'fivo:'cartridges. "' A burglary,.at! Amberley. pcrpfetrated''by more' - than man who met with tlioir duo re- ■ jv.-irdyyields fo.r : yery'service-:;. "'oho'- ofji .tUeiftufiCQpm-' : :pamed. :by.;a bundle: of six cartridges. A' photograph "of: .tli'o'' bioyclo''irhich' playbdKaii i important' part in- tlie. momorable -Papakaio. : vmurdei;'cise'i'and;a : scbre'or'so o'f'¥o'gus haliF- . vrhichc sonjo .-iWelliAgtdn'Veiiizeiis'-" r. ; v ,lection'., . ''v-,'--,}V l " l ' j'. : ' v .''

1: LARGER COLLECTION. ; • ' .. The, Museumj: wnll -assume ita real glory: whai 'Mr.- Dinmo is ablo to add ltp"Aitf'a.'',muchV',larger, : , vcca-; tiori 'is:\cpnhectb.d Mvith' , 'tTj'e/ > adip.Lnistratiori of justice. , This ■; collection,, also, ■ is . not a publio^b"nei"'*"bti^V"it-'is'Utiiown".;to'". 4 : few, and'-tho . writer happens tpi have seen it. It ■ fills'- a larg'o : 'r,opm,:''wherevprio'\ypuld . hanlly oare-to'^spend'a'-'night.; : lf;^hey.;cbnld ; Speak : every article m; this collcctipn "could !;ij'''.taloTui)fold,V.fl'hoso: lightest ivould .. harrow;up-thy soul/'. Hero is; a" portion of ,tho/rppe:'Y;ith ..wliicK a certain .New; Zealarid ;. .in , Us'driror.v,Vas..t' ~ ''djf^s , '.^^' s- l^t-h^ ! - 'npttfi''- • sfi£.: jiii.et"' '.her | ! .'d,eath; '"'''Hero, ( 'pVe-' >, fs'erted- in;■; 'spirits, : is "a* gha^tly^h^ih'Jh'aind. T : - • tho famous "sovcred,hand," which formed •thp'centre' pf a' reniarkable- Canterbury mys-. tery."-',A 'human'hand .was found'-on- ono of thp.' Gpdley.'Hfeid ai}d' Sumner..! It, was ! 'cphtehded'that tho hand had/' formerlyl;belonged;tp .;a' life .waa' : .... hoSvily*Jifeured{ { .and-iwhotit«was presumed had niot'his'death by drowning on the beach.;,' ; A'. cla.im'. : mis.isia.de for .the insurance' mpney, .. but ; 'Vere aroused, and ' thp-, sup- . •' pbsed 'dead ,'niaii' was tiTrd .W^-iniich'"^liYe.i," ©jptatteniKlt. to-cheat. thp .'' insurance company failed, .but. far. as, . momoryis^rvesl^ib'onP for -a tain where tho band came from,: or how it . w4S. obtained. v Jsxlnbits, in connection, - a ghalAlv -b'abyrinurtler case,' and .photographs ind weapons: of-'.varipus criminals, aro among this choiec : collection,'.which,: Jti- Dinnie . 'hbpes ,a to ! receive:'soon- in accprdancp ivi'ith .a! promisb' of. tho," owner: j ~