POLICE IMPERSONATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19964, 4 December 1926, Page 22

POLICE IMPERSONATION.

“ A STUPID ACT.” RACECOURSE INCIDENT. Edward M'Lelland was charged before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., at the City Police Court yesterday with, not being a member of' the police force, he did assume the designation of a police officer. Mr Baylee appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty. Chief Detective Lewis stated that the allegation was that the man had represented himself as a detective from Wellington. Thomas Dove stated that he was employed at the Forbury Trotting Club’s meeting. He had to inspect tickets, and accused came to the door and witness said “Pay.” He answered: “1 am a detective from the north.” Witness asked: “Have you got your pass?” and he replied: “No.” He said ho wanted to see Jock M’Lellan, and' that he was investigating a robbery from the Grand Hotel. He said he was down here on leave. Witness saw him again in the afternoon about 4 o’clock. He gave no name when he said he was a detective. To Mr Baylee: The man wanted to get in. Herbert Griffiths, billiard room proprietor, said he had heal’d accused say that he was a detective from the north and was staying at the Grand Hotel. He was investigating a robbery from that hotel. Detective Russell stated that accused had not denied that 1 he had tried to get in, but ho had not admitted it. He had admitted that he was not a member of the police force. Detective Beer stated that accused had rung up the detective office and said that he had not been fairly treated at the trots. He came into the office, and had apparently been drinking Ho admitted that he had represented himself as a detective. He denied that ho had said ho was engaged on a robbery from the Grand Hotel, but that a man had complained that he had been ribbed. To Mr Baylee: Detectives on the racecourse were called racecourse inspectors. Mr Baylee contended that what the police had to do was to connect definitely accused with some representation bv him that he was connected with the - police force. He argued that that had not been done. Accused said he had been an examining officer of the Customs and a detective. He was always on duty as an examination officer. Pie had not suggested that he was a police detective. He had come from the North Island to Dunedin. There was no intention on his part that Dove should take him to bo a member of the police court. To the Chief Detective; He was chief clerk up north; not examining officer. He said he was a detective, and that ho had left his pass behind. He had lost it. He thought that the pa.ss referred to was the pass to go on to the lawn. Mr Bundle said that the man had been charged with assuming the designation of a member of the police force at the racecourse, Forbury, and had said he was a detective from the North Island. It was suggested by the defence that the statements could convey no assumption that he was a member of the pob.ee force. Guo, should exercise a little cornmonscnse, and if a man came up to a gate b? a racecourse and said what defendant had said the gatekeeper w-ould assume that the man who made such a statement was a member of the police force. He might designate himself a detective and might be one in a limited sense. Defendant had cprtainly been guilty of assuming the designation of a member of the police force and would be convicted. , ' Chief Detective Lewis said defendant was not previously known. He was in the Customs meantime. Mr Bundle: It is an act of such stupidity. Mr Baylee said the man was a returned soldier and had been gassed. From what he had seen of him he had allowed himself to get right down. He had suffered from severe poisoning in France. Mr Bundle: It seems to me move like a mental case. _ . , The Chief Detective: The man is not strong. / Mr Bundle ordered defendant to come up for sentence at any time when called upon within 12 months, and to pay costs (295).