THE POLICE FORCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 26

THE POLICE FORCE.

REPORT OF TWO COMMISSIONERS. (Fkom Our -Own Corkespondent.) Wellington, December 20.

Mr R. Beethain, • SivC, Ghristohnroh, the commissioner appointed to -inquire into the chargtK m>de against ex-Detective .Alexander ■ Henderson reports that the 'charges made by Mi»s Blanche "Mohr" against "Henderson of obscene language.and flrunkepnhasawß entirely with' ut. foundation. ITue commissioner is alia satisfied thab the- boy Courtney Mohr was 'brought by his sifter* to the office of Inspector Broham, and was instructed beforehand what to say respecting the charges of drunkenness. Mr Beethain states th»t during the course .of tho iuvebtigation the habits of Detective Henderson «s regards the n«e of intoxicating liquors and hisfniling'to reporbrthe -disturbance) at the hotel were under consideration. '"What may bo termed two main dharges against Henderson — viz , tbat the uso of improper larguago about the two -girls, and that he "was under the iofluenee 'of liquor -at ths time— are, in my opinion, absolutely disproved. "But there remains fcr the consideration *6f the TVliriiftter■two other questions, being matters of polica discipline — namely,. )tho failure of 'Henderson to report the disturbance at this 'hotel audtha statement of Inspector Btohara'thst Henderson is giren to drinking, but bis drunken habits are not of snch a character »sto render it'ireoeHßßry to report 'him." The commissioner quoteß Inspector Broham, who says it 'ba* not generally been the habit of detectives 'to report breaches of the Licensing Act. 'Bx-Defcective O'Connor says he would not report a disturbance at a hotel, and would not consider it >a breach of duty ndt to do so. Summing up the commissioner tays :—": — " I* the -failure of Henderson -to report tbe disturbance between Mohr and his wife at the hotel — one incident of which was aii attack upon himself— sufficient reason for the discbarge of Henderson from the polica force ? " 'This question Jie submitted for the consideration of the Ministerial head " of the department. '. . ' " INSEECTOR EMERSON'S ?'CAS®. : Mr Eyre Kenny, S-M-^reporting on,the charges .agaiuf-t Inspector Eraerson, s f ates that the-fi&t charge of -drunkenness and card-playing on the Dingadee is absolutely .disproved.- Tfcere waa no evidence in support of the allegation in regard to tbeiohargetfhat Emerson xeturned from Gisborne dcunk and was guilty of .disgusting conduct ; also . that he used abusive and threateuiug .language. Mr Kenny concludes as follow*: — "'ln inquiries of this description, where the accaied has so much at stake, and is on trial for his official life, it is necessary, as .in criminal cases, to adhere to ,those. general principles cf jurisprudence which experience) has nhown to be essential to the administration of justice. Ib cannot be raid thab there is no occasiou to dou'*b here that the evidence before^ne is conflicting and" p< rplexing in, the extreme. 'The important discrepancies between the evidence of Mr Cooper and Mr Warnock, the. two -principal witnesses for the proEeerition, cannofe safely be disregarded. "Mr Cooper's evidence*- % strong as ib is, is corroborated by Mr Warnock »lone, and by him only partially, so that the case against. lnspector Emerson depends almost; on the unsupported testimony cf vone witness. Oa the other band/jmless-.CaptainNea}, Francis Ku&wles, Chief Steward Jacob,. Sergeant Black, and F*th»r Ahem all -wilfully and deliberately perjured themselves, it ; is impossible that Me Cooler's jaarxative can .be correct. Ido notfoc a moment suppose, ;nor do I believe it possibltr, that Mr Cooper has sworn .that which, he .knows to'be untrue, bub it is not improbable that -his .defective eyesight, aggravated by debility .induced l>y sea-sickness, jio impaired Jiis .power* of .observation as to lead <him (Mr .Cooper) .ta wrong conclusions. Be this as ifc .may, haviDg; •regard to thopositive^evidencfiAdduced for the defence, I must find that charges .2 and 3 ara nob proven. In my opinion, therefore, Hone jd£. »the charges against. lnspector "Emerson sot onfc in the commission are I make no order as to costsi"

Dr Fox, a leading American authority «n ■leprosy, tftates -thai; at least 25 -leper* to his knowledge are at large in New York.