SENSATIONAL ARREST

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 88, 16 April 1914, Page 2

SENSATIONAL ARREST

A "WANTED" SOLICITOR. • HIS CAPTURE AT HOKITTEA. HOKJTIKA, April 13. . On Thursday last a ta.ll, dairk,-well-dressed man arrived in Hokitika, put up at Keller's Hotel, and gave his name as "Wm, J. Dominic." He soon became' associated .with leading people in the town. He talked interestingly about books* and discussed, •criminology and law with the confidence of one who knows. "J. Dominic' ' did not trouble to mention •where he caiiie from, but. lie vouchsafed the information that he thought -of taking a trip to Australia for health reasons, and would, in all payability, make the passage by one of the small sailing craft which trade between Greymouth and Sydney. CHARMED WITH CIVIC MAG^NATES. At the invitation of one or two members of the Hokitika Golf Club, lie visited the Mahinapua links on Good Friday, and^everybody who met Mm were charmed. The links were also visited on Saturday and .Sunday, .and "Mr Dominic/, although not an -■expert golfer, got 'in some- fairly ■^effective shots. Late on Sunday heavy rain drove the golfers back to ■town, and he whiled away his time on" -the beach. ' There he discussed the ■disastrous beach erosion with the Mayor and loading citizens, and liis attractive personality »and fund of information made him pleasant company. It'was noticed, however, that lie made searching inquiries about the police 'officers, and even went so far as .to discuss criminology with one of 4ho constables. HIS UNDOING. '.• The late afternoon on the beach on Sunday proved "J. Dominic's" undoing. Judge the surprise of his .new friends when the morning paper announced that, shortly after midnight, a sensational arrest had been -~. effected in Revell S JJreet, and'that' ..John Crisp, alias Dominic, was in custody. • . ■ The ( arrest was effected by Sergeant Folley and Constable Hark, who had noticed accused on the beach during 43i« afternoon. When accosted by •the police; Crisp, at first denied his identity,- and declared that his name really was "J. Dominic," but, after a little argument, he admitted that he was Crisp, and all doubt was dispersed when Crisp's belongings were inspected. It appears that he came i-ound from Lytttelton ,as purser on the Canterbury Steamship Company's Qpouri,, signed, bfL.as; "Dominic oil April 3, getting a first-class,discharge. It had been his intention to get away ' .; ix> Australia on a small sailing vessel, Init very bad weather-had prevented; "the vessel sailing, and Crisp had cvi- .;'. ■dontly journeyed to Hokitika, in order to keep out of the public eye. , Accused appeared before the Court this morning; and. on the application of the police, was remanded to appear / at Dunedin on April 20. He was -diarged with forging the names of Palmer and C. E. Nakler to a deed of mortgage from the same . -Jessie Palmer to James Cunningham -and others, and thereby obtaining the j6um of £1500. Accused, who is a lawyer by'profession, will be taken ' over to Okristchurch to-morix)w and -thence on to Dunedin. ,