Capture of Detective Kirby.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 184, 9 June 1896, Page 2

Capture of Detective Kirby.

TAKEN ON BOARD IN A BOX. Sydney, June 5. Just before the sailing of the Tarawera for Auckland yesterday the police were informed by a wharf hand that Kirby was an' intending passenger. They accordingly watched" the vessel, and noticed a shabbily-dressed decrepit old man going on board. They examined him, and found he had a deformed finger. Kirby saw the game was up, and confessed his identity. He became communicative and said he was in the mud, and that some one very high up in New Zealand was in the mire too. He stated that after he was.released on bail he arranged for a trip to Sydney, and was taken on board the Talune in a box. He found on arrival on the steamer that the lid was secured by two bolts with nuts inside, so that he could release himself. He got out of the box immediately the steamer left Wellington, and managed to secrete himself and obtain food for the remainder of his voyage. From his hiding place he saw the constables who boarded the Talune on her arrival in Sydney. Notwithstanding that the police closely watched the wharf and examined every one who landed, he managed to get ashore, but declines to divulge by what means. The police theory of the matter is that when the Tarawera arrived she was berthed close to the Talune, and that Kirby seized an opportunity to jump from one steamer to the other, that he lay on board the Tarawera for a time, and then succeeded in making his way ashore. When arrested a return ticket to Auckland under an assumed name was found on him.

Sergeant Higgins and Constables Carson and Illson ran Kirby to earth, the last named actually effecting his arrest.

Wellington, June 8.

It is stated that a large case was put on the Talune at the last moment, which went on top of the rest of the cargo in the main hatch. The constable who was watching for Kirby remembers seeing the case, but there was nothing suspicious about it. A nephew of Kirby's was a passenger by the same vessel. Kirby was by no means popular in the force, and had made himself extremely disliked by his conduct towards -those who had to work with him;

Bjf those who understood the feeling towards him the idea of connivance is scouted.

The case in which Kirby escaped was probably constructed with spaces between the. boards to admit air. and these spaces were covered by battens inside. Similar battens found by the police when searching Bassett's house, and knowing the case had gone on hpard the Taluae as luggage at the last moment they cabled the Sydney police to took out for it. When the case was put on board it was so heavy that it took two men to lift it, and the officials here now state that they were convinced all along there had been a man in it though empty on arrival. The, document fouud was not a draft, but a cheque sigued by a Napier resident.

A warrant baa been issued for Bassett's arrest.

Tbe Commissioner of Police has been informed- tbat Kirby has been remanded for a week, and the police authorities in Syduey ask that an officer be sent over armed witb tbe necessary papers to bring the fugitive back.

Sydney, June 5

William George Bassttt, of Wellington, New Zealand, nephew of Kirby, was arrested last nigbt on a charge of aiding and abetting tbe fugitive.