THE NEW POLICE SUB-INSPECTORS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 25

THE NEW POLICE SUB-IN-SPECTORS.

AUCKLAND, April 8. Among the changes ir the police force Sub-inspectoi Wilson, of Palmerston North, comes to Auckland. Sergeant Clark takes the Thames, vice Sergeant Gillies promoted inspector. Detective Herbert comes to Auckland from the Thames, being replaced by Detective M'Mahon.

WELLINGTON, April 8. Sub-inspector Macdonell, of Invercargill, wil) be stationed in Wellington, and not Sub-inspectoi O'Brien as first stated. The latter goes to Christcliurch, while Subinspector Kiely, of Blenheim, will be stationed in Dunedin.

Chief Detective O'Brien, of Dunedin, *who has been promoted to be a sub-in-spector, joined the police service at Dunedin on the 28th October, 1874, under the iate Mr T. K. Weldon t tker cooimissioner

of police for Otago. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant on the Ist February, 1878, and served in Dunedin till March, 1881, when he was appointed detective, and transferred to Oamaru. His first case of magnitude at that place was what was known as " the Papakaio murder case," in which a mar named Alexander Beattie was charged with the murder of 'iis wife, whose body was found buried in a stream in an isolated gully at the Papakaio coalpit. The trial took place in Dunedin in October, 1882, and resulted in the jury disagreeing. Beattie was tried again in January, 1883, and acquitted. The press on that occasion complimented the officers having the handling of the case, on the fairness with which they performed their duty. In April, 1889, Detective O'Brien brought to light one of the largest cases of tobacco smuggling ever discovered in the colony, and in recognition of his services received from the Customs department the largest reward ever paid to a police officer in the colony — viz., £125. He has also received several awards of more moderate dimensions. While stationed at Oamaru he brought to justice several notorious offenders, not only for local offences, but -for offences committed in various parts of the colony. He was appointed chief detective during his sojourn at the Wellington Exhibition in 1896, and was transferred back to Dunedin in August, 1897, and is now to be stationed in Christchurch. It !b understood that Sergeant O'Neill, who has been for some years in charge of the Dunedin district under Inspector Pardy, will be transferred to Invercargill.