OFFENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9083, 18 June 1888, Page 10

OFFENCES.

On the 28th May, Peter Sinclair, - clerk to the Lincoln Road Board, Canterbury, was shot at by a man supposed to be named Hanley, at Springston. The police went out and arrested Hanley. Sinclair was slightly wounded. Detective &eill, with Mr. P. Sinclair, clerk to the Springston Road Board, wore making inquiries about a suspicious fire at the Road Board office, and a few days previously visited tho farm of Thomas Henly, who, while- being questioned, flew into a passion, . got a double-barrelled gun, and fired twice at them as they were leaving the house. The shot took effocfc on Sinclair's leg. Henly, his wife, and son then assaulted tho detective and Sinclair, neither of whom was armed. Thoy managed to get away, and went to Sinclair's house. His condition was serious, though not very dangerous. The detective telegraphed to Christehuvch, and Inspector Pender, with four armed constables, went to arrest Henley. They reached the house at about eight p.m., and found that the door was locked. Henley for a long time refused to open it, saying ho would resist to tho last. His wife entreated him to yield. The police were preparing to burst the door, when it was unlocked. Henley offered a slight resistance, but soon surrendered. The gun with which he shot Sinclair was found in the house loaded. Young Henley did not resist. The prisoners were brought to town shortly before midnight. Henley, was committed for trial on Wednesday, June 13. On the 4th June, about half-past nine a.m., Constable Hobson, who is stationed at Parnell, received information that a man named John Power, a resident of Yorkstreet, had attempted to commit suicide. The constable proceeded to the house, and mot Power in the passage of the house with a jack-knife gripped in his hand. He asked the constable what ho wanted, and Hobson replied he had como to protect Power. At this time one or two members of the family entered the passage, behind Power, who when he heard them turned his head, whereupon Constable Hobson gripped Power, pinioning his arms, taking the knife from his hand, and handcuffing him. Power was brought down to the Police Station, where ho was charged with being of unsound mind, and not under proper control. A dastardly outrage was perpetrated at Aratnpu on tho 29th May. During Mr. J. Neal's absence at To Kopuru a dog that he valued at £100 was seized by some miscreant and shockingly mutilated. Jonathan Roberts, the convict who it will be remembered escaped sometime ago from Tiraaru Gaol, and was recently captured near Lake Ellesmcre, is again at largo, having escaped on June 8 from Ripa Island. His escape was evidently made by the assistance of his fellow-convicts, a gang of whom were working on Ripa Island. They numbered about 40, and were in charge of live warders. There were also several artillerymen on the island. He has not yet been captured. G. V. Bate, county clerk, Hawera, was on the 11th June committed for trial on a charge of embezzlement of county moneys. The total deficiency is about £520. Bail was granted ; but was not forthcoming. It will be three and a-half months before the Supreme Court sits at New Plymouth to hear the charge. Robert Hagen, bootmaker, Maitlandstreet, Dunedin, committed suicide early on June 11 by cutting his throat. An extraordinary charge of fraud was investigated at Patea recently. From the statement of the prosecutrix, it appeared that the accused Steele had impersonated a cousin of hers of the same name, whom she had never seen. This cousin, it appears, landed in Auckland four or five years ago, and for some time had corresponded with his relative, and had exchanged photographs. A short time ago, according to the statement of the prosecutrix, she wrote to Auckland with a view to reviving the correspondence, but the letter fell into the hands of the prisoner, whose assumed or real name was also Steele. He replied to the communication stating that he had met with an accident which had interrupted tho correspondence, and in the same letter requested the loan of a sum of money until he had an opportunity of drawing upon a bank which he pretended held somo £700 belonging to him. The money was duly sent, and fresh demands from the same quarter wero afterwards forthcoming. A few weeks ago the accused visited Patea, and called upon his pretended cousin, who then discovered the fraud that had been practised upon her. Tho man was arrested, and lie now awajts trial before the Supreme Court.