Escape of Detective Kirby.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 277, 29 May 1896, Page 2

Escape of Detective Kirby.

(Per Press Association) Wellington, This Day. When Detective Kirby's case was called on at the S.M. Court this morning there was no appearance of the accused, and on the application of the Crown Prosecutor a .warrant was issued for his arrest, and his recognisances of £400 were estreated. Mr Martin, S.M., addressing Inspector Peiader, said he hoped there ; would be no neglect in apprehending the accused, as this was the second occasion within fifteen months in which a police officer was charged with a serious crime and succeeded in evading justice. If accused bad gOD away to Australia he trusted every effort would be made to see the law vindicated. Later. Detective Kirby was last seen at about five o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. The Talune left for Sydney at 8 o'clock that night, but the police are confident he did not get away by her as the steamer was watched, and, prior to her departure Chief Detective Campbell thoroughly searched the vessel. A suggestion that he might have left for London from Lyttelton by the Tainui last night is not credited by the police as that steamer was also watched. When Kirby was first charged here the police opposed the application for bail, but Mr Greenfield, S.M., granted it in two sureties each of i-100 on each charge. Mr Jones, contractor, formerly of Timaru, and Mr Hoby, dentist, of Wellington, were the sureties.