CHARGES AGAINST INSPECTOR ELLISON.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 222, 16 September 1909, Page 6

CHARGES AGAINST INSPECTOR ELLISON.

At the sitting of the Police Commission in Wellington on Tuesday, George Morris, dairyman, Constable Street, was called by Constable Taylor to give evidence .concerning an alleged act of incivility on the part of Inspector Ellison. Constable Taylor liad taken witness to the Lambton Quay Police Station to get witness's expenses. Inspector Ellison had asked him what he was doing there, and, on being told, said: "Get out of it. Don't you know it has to be paid in the court? You ought to know your duty by this time." The tone of voice in which the words were spoken had impressed the occurrence on witness. Had he been .spoken to in such a way he woiild have beeji inclined to take the uniform off.

, ANOTHER CHARGE. Edward Wilkie Watson, civil servant (Land and Income Tax Department), was called by Constable Taylor. Witness said the case concerned a woman who was slightly mentally deranged. Witness had gone to the police to see if the woman could be committed to the mental hospital as quietly a-s possible. He had seen SubInspector O'Donovan on the subject and made a suggestion to him as to how it should be done. The SubInspector had said he did not want any instructions in the running of his affairs; he was quite able to look

after his own affairs. Subsequently witness saw the Inspector, and asked him if anything had been done in the matter. The Inspector replied: "l do not know. The police require dinner as well as anybody else." Replying to a question by Constable Taylor, witness said, in his opinion, if subordinates were treated in the same, way as the\ public, then all he could say was "God help the subordinates." . i

Inspector Ellison: Did you come to my office on Saturday night last ? — Yes. ■ ' -\ What did you come for ?—To tell you what I thought of you. Had gone to isee the Inspector because he had been asked by certain persons to give evidence before the Commission. He had not been asked to go by any constable.

Did you say: "I will settle you. I will sit on you. I will 'make you sit up. lam higher in the public service than ever you will be? — Witness denied making these statements. Did you say: "I will take this case to the highest in the land?"— No. Did you take your hat off and prance round the room? —No, I am not a prancer. Were you excited?—No, I am not an excitable man.

Did not you come to my office on Saturday night for the purpose of trying to insult me and make me commit a breach of the peace and get me to throw you out?—l did not. As for causing a breach of the peace I think I could hold my own with you.