EXTRAORDINARY PROSECUTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14357, 29 October 1908, Page 4

EXTRAORDINARY PROSECUTION.

CHARGE AGAINST INSPECTOR OF POLICE. THE CASE DISMISSED. (From Our Own C'orp.hspoxdent.) ftREYMOUTH, October 28. The magistrate heard a charge against Inspector Black, in which Robert Gregory laid the information, alleging that oil October 20 ho <lid unlawfully break and enter the dwelling-house of Herbert Ifyan, of Uhiukball, by day—lo wit. between the hours of 1 o'clock and 3 o'clock in the afternoon—with Mitsnt to commit a crime, The •evidence wen; to show that Inspector Black set out for Blackball, but oil the way was infonncd that the consiabk had kit tor Imvn with a prisoner. Ifp replied that Ik; woukl go on to Blackball, as lie might get into the 3:0i;..s somehow to examine the hooks. On his arrival at Blackball lie proceded to the house, which was loeked, so he got in through the wii:dow, examined the books and thou left, getting out by the window. A crowd saw him do this and as a ■result tli? inform,it ion was laid. The informant (Orcgory), in crossexamination, stated that iic had on a previous orcasioii complained to the inspector tlint lie iiad not- been allowed In have "linifl'" pool played on another billiard table in the township, thereby establishing a monopoly. He had ecen Jnspsetor Black on the .subject, and had not got any satisfaction. He (pit annoyed about it at the time, and had threatened to write to the Minister on the subject. One reason why ho had taken t-hteo proceedings was that on tlie occasion of Constable Lyons hein.r drowned, tlw was a mtmbor of women about where the body was lying. Tlie in=iicetov came in and saitl that if Lyon.? had oulv done his duty' lie would nut lmve been lying there dead. At 5 p.m. Mr Joyce asked the magistrate if lie would take any further evidence that ni^lit. The Magistrate: Perhaps il will shorten proceedings if I toll vim at once thai if the evidence is not diliV-rent from that which we have already heard I intend to dismiss llw ta.-e. >lr Joyce said it was ns-cre?ary to call Constable J\£iu to get proof that he was holding tiis dwell in;:, and that Inspector lilacl; "had no authority to enter. The. Magistrate intimated that if that was all the case would-be dismissed; there was soinelliing underlying it. Mr Joyce said that as far as lie was concerned' it was a perfectly bona fide fas?. 'J'lis Magistrate said lie recognised that. However, the case was one which should not have been brought, and unless evidence of a- different nature was culled he would dismiss it. Mr Jovco, having consulted his client, intiuiatcci that, lie would not call any further evidence. The Magistrate: Tlie information is dismissed.