POLICE INSPECTOR CHARGED

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1936, Page 6

POLICE INSPECTOR CHARGED

EXTRAORDINARY CASE AT GISBORNE [Special to "Northern Advocate."] GISBORNE. This Day. There was an unexpected development in the Police Court today, when a case was called, in which an Inspector of Police,' Henry Martin, was proceeded against under private information, charging him with obscene exposure on Waikanae Beach. The counsel for the informant, Mr L. T. Burnard, alleged that since the case was first called there had been interference on the part of the Police Department with witnesses for the prosecution. Of seven witnesses four had actually been approached by Inspector Lopdell, who was relieving Martin, who was on leave. "My client feels," counsel added, "that the case has taken a turn which compels withdrawal. I have never, in my experience, known a case where the other side's witnesses have been approached either by counsel or police. Here four vital witnesses have been seen, and their full story obtained. "They have been shaken and intimidated. This has been done under the deliberate instructions .of the department, which, apparently, sent Martin's friend, Inspector Lopdell, for that very purpose. I submit that the case has gone beyond the stage where it can be handled by a private citizen, and- I ask leave to withdraw." Extraordinary Procedure. Mr J. S. Wauchop, for Martin, said nothing in the * whole case was more extraordinary than the procedure of the informant. The allegations, so far as he understood them, were that Martin, after bathing at 6.30 in the morning, had covered himself with a' dressing gown and removed his bathing costume. It was alleged, that, either by accident or design, the gown came open and that Martin exposed himself. On this evidence, Dr Wauchop submitted, no solicitor in the town would have taken the responsibility of laying information. "At the time the information was laid," Mr Wauchop added, "two constables were subject to a very serious charge, which was adjourned, ponding the hearing of this case. Tt is an astonishing fact that all the witnesses so far as I can learn, were seen by one or other of these two constables." \ Counsel added that inquiries made I from officials of the beach society disclosed that no complaints had been made against Martin's conduct, the caretaker describing the charge as "only a laughing matter." The magistrate, Mr" E. L. Walton, adjourned the case until February 10. stating that, in the meantime, he would communicate with the Justice Department.