THE CASE OF MESSRS. AUSTIN AND MOUNSET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10083, 19 March 1896, Page 6

THE CASE OF MESSRS. AUSTIN AND MOUNSET.

DISCHARGED AT THE POLIICE COURT.

A bather peculiar case of mistaken identity, or rather of arresting the wrong man, accurred orer the receut robbery ab the Rotorua Po. ,-office, when £237 was stolen. On Tuesday morning, Henry Albert Austin and Henry Moaniey were charged, ab the Police Court, with the offence, and remanded to Rotorua. Yesterday, they were again called before the Bench, and Mr. Cotter appeared for them. Sergeant Oamble stated that the Inspector had instructed him to inform the Bench that when the firab telegram was received by the department, suspicion pointed to the two men. Since then, however, further inquiries had been instituted, and the police had learned that the defendants had nothing to do with the robbery, and he wished them discharged. Mr. Cotter said he thought something else should be said. It was absolutely clear that when the offence was committed his clients wero nowhere in the neighbourhood; in fact, were miles away. The whole connection between Messrs. Mounsey and Austin and those men who were now in custody for the offence was that one of his clients had been seon having a drink with one of them.

His Worship laid the report stated they were also in company at the baths. Mr. Cotter replied that nothing was more likely at a public watering place. He went on to criticise the arresb of the men, who, he said, were tourists from the other side, and was firmly of opinion that the matter should be represented to the Government. Mr. Northcroft said it was nob for him to do it. He bad told Mr. J. B. Graham the previous day that if his friends had bean unjustly treated, they should make representations to the Government, but ib could not be done by the Court. Mr. Cotter stated thab they had made arrangements to leave Auckland that morning, and he hoped that the police would not afterwards say they had left with undue haste. It was a poor consolation for them after being arrested as they had, merely for no evidence to be offer.ed, and he felb vary strongly on the subjoct. Sergeant Gamble remarked that Inspector Hickson had instructed him to state that the police had no longer any suspicion that) the men were connected with the robbery in any way whatever. Messrs. Austin and Mounsey were then discharged from custody.