POLICE METHODS.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXI, Issue 2722, 23 November 1910, Page 3

POLICE METHODS.

CASE OF CAPTAIN SIMONS

LEGISLATORS PAY THE FINE

" Will the Government take steps to see that adequate recognition is given to the brave action ot Probationers Johnson and i Joole, of the Police Department, who recently took advantage of the hospitality of an old age pensioner in Wellington in order to secure a conviction for sly grog-selling." By a question so worded, Mr Poland, M.P. for Ohinemuri, drew the attention of the Prime Minister to the case of Captain Simons, who was on Monday convicted and fined £3, with 7s cost, for alleged sly grog selling on Adelaide Road. The iacts were (continued Mr Poland) that the accused was accosted by two police probationers. They told the old man that they were dying ot thirst and wanted a drink. After much persuasion the accused went to his dwelling and got some drink, tor which the probationers insisted upon paying Being very hard up, the old man was induced to accept 2s 6d. On account of his hospitality, he was, however, brought before the. Court, and, on the evidence of the probationers, fined. He might add that when they read of the case in the press various members of Parliament within five minutes subscribed the amount ot the fine and paid it. He would like to ask the Premier whether it was intended to give the probationers half the amount of the fine in the circumstances. Mr Greenslade expressed the hope that the two probationers concerned would never reach the police force. Mr J. P. Luke said he had known the old man since 1874, and in his opinion he was the last person in the world to lend himself to sly grog selling. The Prime Minister said he had not noticed the newspaper reports of the case, but he would have enquiry made. Accompanying the receipt sent to Mr Simons m regard to the fine was the following letter :— " Dear Sir—l have pleasure on behalf of many members of Parliament in forwarding you a receipt for the fine and Court expenses inflicted on you yesterday on account of your misplaced hospitality. The amount ot £3 ys was collected in five minutes, and not a single refusal was met with. "We beg to express our sympathy with you in your trouble, and trust it will not be allowed to interfere with your receipt ot your pension. uOn behalf of the subscribers, — Yours sincerely, H. Poland." The Attorney-General, interviewed by a Wellington Post reporter, said the two probationers met Captain Symons and asked him if he knew where they could get a drink. He replied that he did not know of any place but offered to let them have some of his own. They accompanied him to his residence and' he went in, leaving them in the street, and returned with a small bottle of whisky, which he handed over. According to Captain Simon's own signed statement one of the probationers asked, " What do we owe you ?" and he replied, " halt-a-crown. It holds five glasses." Captain Symons. also states : —"They gave me 2s 6d. This took place in the street. I had a mouthful with them, and the whisky I sold them cost me 6d." The probationers duly reported the circumstances and a prosecution was ordered, with the result, that Captain Symons was convicted. " These are the facts," said Dr Findlay, " and I am content to leave the public to judge whether the police deserve all that has been said ot them in connection with this case. I have nothing to say at the present about rewards for the conviction ot sly grog-sellers or the methods employed to detect sly grog-selling. There is no alternative unless the law-breakers are to be allowed to go their own way unchecked. Is this desired by the law-abiding section of,, the community? I leave this matter there at present."