POPULAR POLICE OFFICER

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 236, 29 June 1908, Page 11

POPULAR POLICE OFFICER

• 'SUB-INSPECTOR O'DONOVAN. HONOURED BY THE BENCH AND BAR. Preparatory to commencing the business of tho day at tho Magistrate's Court on Saturday, opportunity was taken by the Stipendiary Magistrates,'arid the members of tho ' logal profession to bid farewell to Sub-Inspec-tor John O'Donoyan, whoso name has been associated, with the, local, police force for over a quarter, of tv! century. The body of tho Courthouse was "filled with members of the legal fraternity and prominent police officials, tho.-gathoring being presided over by Dr. and' Mr. W. G. Riddell, Stipendiary Magistrates.- • ' Mr. Thos. Young, President of the Wellington Law Society, in - congratulating Sub-In-spector O'Donovau l on his promotion to the Palmerston .North sub-district, said he had known . tho Sub-Inspector for very many . years. ;,' : Mr. O'Donovan was known to a great ..number of the : gathering for the past twenty'-years, during which time, by his own labours, ■he had risen step by step until lie had- reached hi;; present position, which was the result of indomitable industry. Mr. O'Donovan had qualified as a solicitor some ' years'ago, and so became one of the legal profession, but he preferred to remain, in the force rather than start in practice for himself, v.,By his assiduous attention to duty, hisiiihiform courtesy to all in the profession, and, in fact, to everybody with whbm iho had come in contact, ho was universally respected. The-'members of tlio profession took, this opportunity 'of congratulating Mr. O'Donoyan on'his'promotion, arid wishing him every success.;in- the - future. Tho Sub-Inspector had been a friend ,in private, although he had to-.take'sides against the profession officially. Apologies for non-attcndanco were received from Messrs. H. D. Bell, E.C., M.-'Myers, and A. L:' Hordman, all of whom are out of town.;' i, . Mr; T. M. Wilford, M.P., stated that the Salvation, Army authorities had approached him and' had asked that he should publicly ex- ' - press tho_ appreciation of the Army for tho great assistance Mr. O'Donovan had always given- them.; The Sub-Inspector had been ready to help the Army at'any time.; Ho was nlicays a real friend of the unfortunate. Speaking as a member of the legal profession, MKJ; Wilford remarked on Mr. O'Donovan's wide'.knowledge of criminal law,, and con-, sidered that merijbers of the profession at. Palmerston North would have to brush up their knowledge of procedure and decided cases, as they would havo to meet a man who .was.thoroughly'up to date.' The administration of criminal law in Wellington had been wisely and safely entrusted to Mr. O'Donovan, aiid from his own personal experience lie (Mr. Wilford) could testify to .-' theVSub-Inspcctor's absolute fairness. Ho . . Had.heard, of prosecutors being called persecutors, but by the widest stretch of imaginatiori'this could not bo said of Sir. O'Donovan, ivht); had helped prisoners when tiiey came out of gaol, and on behalf of the l criminal portion of society, with whom ho (the/speaker) was, fairly closely in touch, he could say they have only kindly feoling to-' • wards. thei man who had to appear, against . them!in a the Court. (Applause.) Outside of- \ . the Court' Mr. O'Donovan's good nature and Kindliness of disposition endeared him to the. people of> the'vcity,, all classes of tho com-;, niiinity having a good word to say for him. He was sorry the Sub-Inspector was leaving Wdllirigton, but our loss would be Palmers- : ton's. decided gain. ]-Ie did, not think it ; possible to get a Sub-Inspector in any Do-., .minion who could reflect greater credit upon the, office and administer it with more temperate rulo and absoluto fairness. (Applause.) -.■'; ■ ■ ' - ■':, ; ■ ■, ; ( Mr. -A. ; Gray, added his . testimony to Mr. O'Donovan's worth. He was not only deserving'of his, promotion, but was deserving of: the. thanks of every member of the profession with whom he had had to deal. His assiduous attention to, duty ,was only equalled by! his fairness. (Hear, hear.) Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M.j said thoy must' not' grudgb' Palmerston- of the best they ,can give themiMr. : o'Doriovan was a man who , iiot'only knows'the-World; itself, but be-had : worked up from tho ranks' to his present honourable position. In his own private time ,he had done considerable study, and had-qualified to be one. of the horiourablo profession;-'' After referring to Mr. O'Dono- • van!s unfailing courtesy, His Worship remarked that, speaking of tho Sub-Inspector's fairness was like whitening something : that was already white. -.Mr. O'Donovan, he could safely say, had the respect of all, and he might add that the esteem of the Salvation Army was an esteem well worth gaining; v;. Tlioy wont further .into'the world than some of us, arid in their own peculiar way did a great amount of good. : He (the speaker), or Mr. Riddell, or the Sub-Inspector hadn.frequently had occasion to ask them ■ to; take charge of, some unfortunate, and they had never refused. His -Worship coneluded by wishing the Sub-Inspector tho success lie deserved in his new sphere of labour. .Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., said he had not known Mr. O'Donovan as as Dr. M'Arthur or the members of tho Bar had, but he. had known him long enough to say something in his favour. *'A man is known by his v> ; ork," continued His Worship, "especiially so in tho case of a public ofßcer.", Tho highest form of'praise 1 was that of'an' opponent, and when Mr. O'Donovan heard words ,of praise from members of the profession who had always been opposed to ! him" professionally he' had every reason to feel satisfied. Mr. O'Donovan had always discharged his duty in a conscientious and impartial manner, and ho (the speaker) joined in wishing him success in tho future. "'Mr. O'Donovan, in responding, remarked . that ;that moment, if not the happiest, wa3 cortainly a very proud moment in his life, and he had just cause to be proud in that he. was the recipient of the high enconiums of the Bench and Bar. A cood many kind things had been said of him, but ho had to'-confess that in many respects ho had fallen' far short of the standard of perfection to which ho aspired, and for which he was getting . credit. During a period of close on thirty years service in Wellington ho'had seen every Magistrate who occupied the Bench of the Court, and ho could say with, confidence that :at no' time in that period had the criminal law been administered with moro conscientious regard for the.' intorests of justico and tho public weal than, during the. past ten years. Within the period ,of thirty years the methods of the administration, of the. criminal law had considerably modified;-the harsh rigour of the old system had -given-way to methods ,;more in' accordance with humane instincts, ana the. tendency of Magistrates, as well as tho trend; of legislation, was all in the direction of alleviation of the-position of the criminal until;; clemency was' ' the ? dominant noto thronghoitt." The administration of criminal law : required at all times, a trained intellect, a-; .well-balanced" mind, and a sympathetic heart. , The citizens of Wellington were fortunate .that' the Bench of the Court was at prosent , occupied by gentlemen who possess these qualities-in an eminent degree. As in the administration of the lav.-, so in the practice of it'a great change had taken place. The vituperation which was'often a marked: featuro of plending in former times had; how' disappeared and given placo to amenities characteristic of 'gentlemen, and nt'present tho prestige and honour of . tho Bar .were at least as high as he had over known them to 80, and such a Bar was ono of , the best guarantees that a police forco must and would be kept up to the very highest point, of efficiency. Ho had to thank Inspector Ellison for tho great assistance ho had always given him, and the members of the police force' for their loyal service; also the -Salvation Army and the Press. Mr. 1 O'Donovan will leave'for Palmorston North to-day' to enter upon his new duties.