DETECTIVE'S CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17596, 8 October 1920, Page 5

DETECTIVE'S CASE.

ALLEGATIONS INYESTIGIskS;

DENIAL BY THE DEFENCE.

TRIBUNAL RESERVES decision.

[Br TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION, j " WELUINGTOX.' Thursday The inquiry into the allegations " made' against several Wellington police officers ' ~ by ex-Detective-Sergeant M. Mason -wag resumed to-day. " ' - s Mason evidence that he was intimidated by the presence of a Hansard reporter m the Supreme Court, for he felt there was a conspiracy to trip him after his action in the Magistrate's Court in connection with the charge against two men of stealing sanitary pans belonging to the Petone Borough Council. He was humiliated, by being superseded in the Supreme Court proceedings, another officer being entrusted with the case in that Court.

Mr. Skerrett, K.C., in opening the case for the defence, submitted that the charges were wanton and without foundation, and unworthy of the tribunal set up to investigate them. Mr. Myers, for Mason, had stated that no personal , ttack was made on the three officers named, but that it was the police system which was attacked but Mr. Skerrett held it was obvious that the complaints were nothing more than charges ot misconduct against those officers. Mr. Myers must have been deceived as to the facts. It appeared that Mason had adopted an incurable bias that f", , , r , ma U-- was the master thief, and that the accused Miles and Millanto were dupes. There was no intention of intimidating Mason by the presence of a Hansard reporter in the Supreme Court., Inspector W. B. Mcllveny, the first wit- - ness for the defence, recounted his discussions with Mason of a preliminary report made by the latter. ■ Witness kid it appeared to him that Miles and Millanto would have to be prosecuted, to which Mason replied, "For God's sake don t do that, sir. If you do my evidence will get them off." During the conversation witness had pointed out to • Mason a story of the surreptitious meet* ing •of Miles and Millanto with ",a third • man. If this was correct there was evidence of guilty knowledge on the part of - Miles and Millanto. Witness stated that " he told Mason that if he had made any promise to the men he (witness), would respect it. Mason replied that he was under no obligation. Witness stated that on account of the peculiar attitude taken up by Malson he referred the question of the prosecution of Miles and Millanto to Superintendent Norwood. Witness was informed by Detective-Sergeant Rawle that Mason intended making an attack on a superior officer and was attempting to •. do so when checked by Rawle. Witness maintained that there was nothing unusual in the Crown Solicitor's action in handing further inquiries over to another officer when the investigating officer was present. The inspector also held that Mason unduly delayed his investigations. Detective-Sergeant Rawle, who was'" acting as chief detective at the time the Miles-Millanto case was before theSMag&'J'i trate s Court, gave .evidence as to instructions received as to* .checking Mason in case of an attempted attack cri Ids superiors. : -objected -Mason expressing opinions as' to -the innocence .- Miles and Millanto. The objection was - upheld by the Court. / . v - After Superintendent Norwood-- had given evidence the commission reserved its decision. •