SURRENDER TO JUSTICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19503, 6 December 1926, Page 11

SURRENDER TO JUSTICE.

ALLEGED CONSPIRACY. \ OLD CHARGE REVIVED* MELBOURNE POLICE SCANDAL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 7.35 p.m.) A. and N.Z. MELBOURNE. Dee. 5. Detective Fowler, who with other members of the railway detective branch was arrested in April of last year on various serious charges, but absconded from bail, has now surrendered to the police. He was to-day charged with conspiracy, theft of moneys, and demanding money with threats. He was remanded on bail, until December 9. In April of last year Detective-Inspector Alholm, head of tho railway detective branch, Detective O'Sullivan, second in charge of tho same branch, and Detectives McPherson and Fowler, all of whom were suspended on March 16, after a departmental inquiry, were commited for trial on three charges. These were:—Conspiracy, the theft of £IOOO, and demanding with menaces £6500 from Terence Caliaghan, licensee of tho Londonderry Hotel, Collingwood. Tho hearing of the case caused unprecedented interest. The Crown Prosecutor said it was alleged that during Callaghan's absence from tho hotel a man called and left certain articles there. For these Miss Callaghan paid him £lO. Shortly afterwards the four accused appeared, and after searching tho hotel, found the articles in question. They suggested that the girl's father should be seen before she was arrested. On tho following morning the goods were carried from the hotel by O'Sullivan and Fowler and concealed at tho lost property office at the railway station. During the negotiations which followed O'Sullivan was alleged to have told Callaghan that he (Callaghan) would get two years in gaol and his daughter 12 months _ for receiving stolen goods. After bargaining, it was arranged that Callaghan should pay £6500 to the accused and that the■' affair would be hushed up. Callaghan stated in evidence that ho paid £IOOO to O'Sullivan in tho presence of the other three accused, and made arrangements for tho payment of the balance of the £6500. Ho did not complete the payments, but informed the authorities • of the transaction. Fowler did not appear at the hearing of the charges and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The chief of police said he had received a letter from the missing man, saying he wished to resign from the force owing to a nervous breakdown. The writer did not mention tho charges.