KIRBY'S DISAPPEARANCE.

Hastings Standard, Issue 30, 1 June 1896, Page 2

KIRBY'S DISAPPEARANCE.

AN ANONYMOUS COMMUNICATION. POSSIBLE ESCAPE BY TAINUI. POLICE CONDEMNED. A REWARD OF £"250. GENERAL OPINION, STILL IN WELLINGTON. [Special to Standard.] ( lUj T( /c;iraph—Oirn Correvjiotulent. j Wellington, this day. With regard to Detective Kirby's disappearance, the following anonymous communication was received by the Evening Post on Saturday :—" If the Post really desires to know what became of Austin Kirby they can. He was shaved by a barber named George, employed by Herman. His hair was dyed, and he went to Lyttelton by the Takapuna, and caught the Tainui. The news that he was gone was in the hands of your reporter before noon on Thursday, and the Tainui left Lyttelton at 6 p.m. same day, so the police could have got him if they wanted. If the Government do right they will arrest Kirby's sureties for conspiring to defeat justice." On the receipt of the letter, says the Post, we at once communicated with Inspector Pender, whose opinion is that there was no dependence to be placed upon it. As soon as the news of Kirby's disappearance reached the police on Wednesday evening a telegram was sent, through the courtesy of the Telegraph officials, as the office was then closed, to Inspector Broham, of Christchurch, requesting him to thoroughly search the Takapuna on her arrival at Lyttelton, and also the Tainui before she departed. Inspector Pender has since received information that this has been done. It is possible, he adds, that Kirby may have been secreted on the vessel, as a thorough search of a steamer is almost an impossibility. Herman, he thinks, had no interest in getting Kirby away, while as for the sureties being concerned in the matter that is ludicrous. Our representative then proceeded to Mr Herman's shop in Cuba Street, and on being interrogated, that gentleman denied all knowledge of Kirby's movements, and pointed out that his interest was to expose Kirby. Kirby had never come inside his shop. The last time Mr Herman saw him was on the wharf on Wednesday morning, where Mr Herman had gone in order to meet Mr Kippenberger, his counsel, on his arrival from Christchurch. On the letter being shown to Mr George, he, like his employer, utterly scouted the idea that he had assisted in bringing about Kirby's escape. Mr Hoby, too, for himself and Sir T. R. -Jones, the other surety, gave an authentic denial to the suggestion that either had been connected with the escape. The Government is offering a reward of £250 for information that will lead to the arrest of Kirby. The Talune is expected to reach Sydney to-day, and the police here hope to receive a cable message this afternoon, by which time the Sydney police should know if Kirby is on board. The general opinion is that Kirby is still in Wellington.