AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1523, 28 February 1901, Page 24

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

BACK FROM NEW CALEDONIA.

RETURN OF EDMOND BOUVY.

PROSPECTIVE ACTION FOR

DAMAGES

A mild sensation, has been caused in Wellington by the return of M. Edmond Bouvy, whose extradition to New Caledonia created a great deal of interest here last year. In conversation with a “Times” reporter last week, Bouvy said that after his arrival at New Caledonia he was detained in quarantine for a time, but presently came before a Magistrate. The latter simply asked him where the officer who had brought him over in the steamer was. Bouvy replied that he had gone back to the ship. “Has he handed you your money?” queried the Magistrate. Bouvy having replied in the negative, the Magistrate said : “Well, you had better wait here till he comes. Then you will be a free man.”

“But as he was going through some papers, he came across a letter from Wellington,” said Bouvy. “A look of surprise came over his face, and he immediately ordered that I should be detained.”

Bouvy was accordingly placed in a New Caledonian prison, where he slept on flag stones in a dark cell, and received horrible food to eat. But his detention was of comparatively short duration, lasting only from the 30th June to th« 12th July. On the last-named date he was again brought before the Magistrate, who said : “To-morrow, as soon as the Governor returns, you will be liberated.” And it was even so.

Immediately he received a letter from the Governor, who invited Bouvy to go and see him.

“I am very sorry to hear of the position in which you have been placed,” said the Governor, who then explained that he had engaged a cook who would not be able to fulfil his engagement for some days. Bouvy was invited to fill the vacancy. The latter accordingly cooked for the Governor until the 20tli August. He was afterwards engaged in a similar capacity at the< Hotel de France, at Noumea. There he remained until the 10th of this month, and then left on the return journey to New Zealand via Sydney. He arrived here by the steamer Moana last week. Since returning to Wellington Bouvy has been in communication with Mr T. Wilford, M.H.R., whom he has Instruct ted to issue a writ for £SOOO damages for wrongful arrest and imprisonment.