WAR ON CRIME

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 44, 20 August 1938, Page 10

WAR ON CRIME

USE OF SCIENCE

CAREER OF MR. S. TILL

NOTED POLICE CASES

From the horse-drawn wagon for tha "flying squad's" means of transport to the speedy, radio-equipped motor-car, and from rule-of-thumb methods to modern, scientific means of crime detection, Mr. S. Till, who retired from the position of superintendent of police in Auckland this week, has watched the New Zealand force progress in the forty years of his service, states the "New Zealand Herald." Through his hands have passed the files relating to many of the major crimes of the last four decades, and his memories include aspects of service in towiis and cities from Auckland in the north to Christchurch in the south. From the remote days when tha horse was the only means of transport outside the cities to recent years, when the police in New Zealand have, employed aeroplanes for special assignments, Mr. Till has, in various administrative positions, taken an active interest in the development of the force. In an interview at his home yesterday he recalled some of the more interesting cases of his time, and ventured a suggestion or two concerning lines for future progress. TWO FAMOUS CASES. Mr. Till was in close contact with two of New Zealand's best-known crimes of late years, the Mouat case and the Bayly case. Although separated by a number of years, the cases had very much in common, and were taken by Mr. Till to indicate the degree to which crime-detection methods had progressed. Medical evidence played a major part in both cases, Mr. Till said. The Mouat case, however, depended a very great deal on the classification of the bones found, whereas in the Bayly trial evidence of a type never before used in New Zealand helped to obtain a conviction. Micro-photography and the finer points of ballistics were among the scientific means used in the detection of the murderer of Samuel Pender Lakey and his wife. So important was the Bayly case that it had resulted in major additions to the training schedule of yOung detectives, Mr. Till continued. Special courses of lectures in subjects not usually covered were provided. So wide was the interest in the case that a resume was : printed even in the gazette of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Several atrocious crimes that have long since faded from public mind and which, incidentally, were never solved, are vividly xecalled by Mr. Till. The "horse-fiend" trouble, when a criminal of the "Jack the Ripper" type. was brutally butchering horses in the South Island, resulted in exceptional poiice activity, 20 or 25 men being out each night, watching the stables. The man was never caught, and the crimes and their reason remain a mystery. Burdens of organising the Auckland police, at the shortest possible notice, for public protection when the riots occurred in April, 1932, fell heavily oh Mr. .Till. He was already superintendent in Auckland, and he describes the period of the riots as one of the most difficult of his long career. "The most strenuous years have been the last eight years in Auckland," he said. "This is the busiest district, and we have here about one-fifth of the total Police Force of New Zealand. In the last 40 years, incidentally, the force has been trebled, from about 500 men to some 1500 at presenL" RADIO AND MOTOR-CARS. Mr/riU is a strong believer in the police having the latest equipment at their disposal. He pointed out that the criminal was ; always prompt to seize on any development of science ,within his grasp, ancl put it to nefarious use, so that it was essential for the police to be equally swift in adopting new methods. The motor-car, for example, as soon as" it had got past the conr spicuous stage, was used by criminals for swift transport, and in other countries they had for years been using aeroplanes. An interesting revelation,- that radioequipped motor-cars had already been tried with outstanding success by the Auckland police, was made by Mr. TilL He mentioned that some time ago, when there was an outbreak of thefts from telephone booths and stamp machines in the suburbs, a- night-patrol car was equipped with radio, and an arrest and conviction followed rapidly. "There is no doubt that; wireless in patrol cars is coming," he continued. "Ultimately, the Police Force will have its own transmitter outside the city, with telephone connections to the central station. I understand that he Department is investigating the matter. Such a system will be of great, value in keeping down suburban housebreaking and a big protection to the householder." Mr. Till concluded with a word of praise to the young men joining the I force. He said the physical standard [was high, and the educational qualifli cations better than ever before.