A Napier Sensation.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 197, 22 May 1896, Page 2

A Napier Sensation.

A WELL-KNOWN DETECTIVE

ARRESTED.

Napieb, May 19. A most extraordinary and painful sensation was created in town to-day when the well-known Detective Kirby was arrested on a warrant from Wellington charging him with having on 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 £4OO and £2OO respectively. The accused was brought before Mr Turnbull, S.M., this afternoon, when without offering any evidence Sergt. Donovan applied for a remand to Wellington, which was granted. Kirby appealed for bail, substantial securities being in waiting, but the S.M. said he would give him a short remand to Wellington where he could take his chance of getting bail there. It is understood that it is not a private prosecution but undertaken at the instance of the Government.

Herman, at the date of the summons, was in business as a tobacconist at Timaru, but he soon after went to America, whence he returned only a few months ago. He was, it is said, met with an old friend who had a grudge against Kirby on account of an affair in Napier, and on hearing the circumstances this friend communicated with the authorities, who^ after enquiries, instituted the prosecution-