DETECTIVE KIRBY ARRESTED.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1264, 21 May 1896, Page 21

DETECTIVE KIRBY ARRESTED.

A SERIOUS CHARGE PREFERRED AG.' INST A WELL-KNOWN POLICE OFFICER.

Napier, A lay 19,

A most extraordinary and painful sensation was created in town to-day, when a well-known police officer, Detective Kirby, was arrested on a warrant from Wellington charging him with having in or about 1882 at Timaru feloniously threatened to accuse one John Herman of a certain crime with a view to extort and gain money, and by threatening in a like manner, did cause the said John Herman to sign two cheques valued at JMOO and A3OO respectively. Tho accused was brought before Mr Turnbull, SAL, this afternoon, when, without offering any evidence, Sergeant Donovan applied for a remand to Wellington, which was granted. Kirby applied for bail, substantial sureties being in waiting, but the Magistrate said lie would give him a short remand to Wellington, where ho could

take his chance of getting bail there. It is understood that t his is not a private prosecution, but undertaken at the instance of tho Government. Herman at the dato of the summons was in business as a tobacconist at Timaru, hut he soon after went to America, whence he returned only a few months ago. 110 was, it is said, met by an old friend, \\ ho had a grudge against Kirby on account of an affair in Napier, and on hearing the circumstances this friend, it is alleged, communicated with tho authorities, who, after enquiries, instituted the prosecution.

Detective Kirby is well known in ’Wellington, where he had been stationed for a number of years. Ho was formerly at Timaru, and was transferred thence to Christchurch. Ho was afterwards in Wellington for some time, and was next in Auckland, from which placo ho was sent to Napier.