OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 34

OBITUARY.

DR P. E. MUSKETT. • ■ SYDNEY, August 25. (Received August 25, at 9.55 p.m. The death of Dr Phillip E. Muskett, a prominent medical man, is announced. He is hest known as the author of several books on medicinal subjects. Dr Philip Edward Muekett was born at Melbourne in 1857. He- was for some time resident medical officer of Melbourne Hospital, and afterwards acted in a similar capacity at Sydney. He began practise on his arrival in 1885. He was a most prolific writer on the subject of healthy more especially with respect to diet, his latest work being "Th© Treatment of the Different Diseases by Means «f- Diet," which was published only last year. Many of hie works also deal wifch the maladies of children and their feedine. He has also written sever&l monographs on technical subjects connected i*im*his profession. Dr Muskett was secretary -"for New,. South Wades of th©. second, fourth, fifth, and sixth intercolonial Jfjafedical congre&ses at Melbourne, Dune^jc. - Brisßame, . and Hob'art: : ' -rrr" — ' * MR EWEN MacDONELL. WELLINGTON, August 26. Air Ewen MacDoneJ}/ who joined J>h« Police Force at Dunedin in 1875, ' and" who was promoted to sirb-inspector in 1899 and inspector in 1900, died at Petone last night. He retired from the service on December 31 last. (Fxom Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, August 26. Ex-Inspector MacDonell had a remarkable career. In 1868, when a mere stripling, foe joined the Inverness County Police, ana was sent to Kingussie under an old friend, Sergeant M'Gruer, the father of a well-known Invercargill business man (Mr J. D. M'Gruer). Within a year Coii6table MacDonell was transferred to Fort William. Drinking was pretty common at this place, but the young constable was strong-minded enough and acute enough to tee that this would not do for him, so when he wa.s given charge of a district 12 miles out of Inverness he made a resolution to leave drink practically alone, and from that re«>lve he never departed. During three years in this district Constable MacDonell made a number of detections, and became known as one of the smartest men ever in charge there. He was a man of very powerful physique, and he owed hrie great strength to some extent to the time he devoted to Scottish athletic feats. In 1&71, at MoyhaJl, the muscular policeman defeated the representative athletes of Strathdairn, Strathnairn. Strathspey, Badenoch, and Lochaber at bximmer-throwing, weightputting, tossing the caber, etc. In 1872 at Glenelg Mr MacDonell arrested the celebiated athlete John M'Lecd, and took him to Inverness single-handed — a feat that was told in the press of the United Kingdom. No other man ever handled .M'Leod alone. On the last occasion M'Leod dragged three would-be arresters into a river, and, leaving his coat in their hands, escxped. A et.ill more notable feat was the arrest, single-handed, of a maniac at Bamsdale. The maniac was a very powerful man, and to capture him Mr MacDonell had to make his way into a dark den. The arreet was maae by sheer amiscle. Mr MncDonell by this tame had won a name in the Scots Police for physical strength and intrepidity. In 1875 Mr MicDonell was attracted to New Zealand, and he joined the Otago Police. He was transferred from Dunedm to Green Island, where he was responsible for the detection of the feriee of sly-grog caess known as the "Hit-or-miss cases." The»e lasted for nearly 12 months, and were defended by the present Judge Denniaton, then a successful lawyer in Dunedin. Mr Denniston took one of the cases to the Court of Appeal, and lost it. Constables Gilbert and MacDonell were at once promoted to the rank of sergeant. There was another little experience at Green Island. Mr MacDonell wanted some information in connection with a gambling case, and challenged Mr James Miller, J.P., to a game of draughts. In the enthusiasm of tlie game Mr Miller's jjuard oveT his tongue relaxed, and '

although Mr MacDonell lost the game he got the information. Mr MacDonell was either the first or second officer in the Dominion to obtain the " record of merit " instituted by the department. While in charge of the South Dixnedin district he succeeded, where others had failed, "in shutting up immoral public-houses. His next transfer was tr> Invercargill in 1889, and here he remained for 10 years. It was here that he brought about one of the smartest pieces, of detection in the annals of the. Dominion. Four men were implicated in the Waikawa safe robbery.. Detective Herbert and Constables Green and Bogue arrested two men on chance, and sent them to , Invercargill. After a lot of trouble Mr MacDonell got one of them (Wybrow) to give evidence, but he knew that- the evidence of an accomplice would not convict, and he felt sure that another man named Power was the ringleader. After an arrangement of telegraphic conversations it was discovered who were in it, and Mr MacDonell had the other two men arrested at Waikawa. He kept Wybrow and Power apart, knowing that when they had a cnance they would speak together. A constable was placed between "the" two- cells, and some incriminating conversation v took place. The men were "taken before the court the next morning, and were remanded. - Here Mr MacDonellJs knowledge* of the prisoners 1 served a good turn. He anticipated that ' they would ask for a smoke when they left the coart, and beforehand ConetaWeHoward was hidden in a cupboard in the' day room at the camp, and a form was drawn across the door. With the certainty of fate the recpiest for a smoke came, and the unsuspecting men were put in the day room without a word or glance to arouse their suspicion. They " gave the ©how away " by discussing the whole affair within a few feet of Constable Howard's listening ear. On the night" the other two prisoners were brought in the sergeant asked the detective if they had said anything, and found-tthat they had been absolutely dumb. It was dark, and standing a few feet away from the prisoners, and in their hearing, he gave the detective a full history of the robbery, as learned from the day room conversation, and then, without a word, sent them to their cells. Again, his experience of men made him absolutely certain that these men would have something to say if given time. Constable Howard was therefore sent to march up and 'down withiq their view. Soon one of them called Howard, and astoed-to see the sergeant. He' was, taken .before Mr MacDonell, and said he wanted to give his evidence. He was given pen, -ink, and paper, a»d without a word was conducted to another room. After a while v he returned with a written confession, aiul asked to be called as a witness; When he got back to his cell his companion aekect- him. where he had. been. • been giving my — ■ — evidence," said he. " Well/ e*d the other, "if you've given your* evidence, my God, I'm going to give my ' evidence too." .He was taken before sergeant, given writing mateTfafc?-, and'*oon returned to his cell quite satisfied at getting "quits" witfi" his comrade. The police had now no trouble in securing a conviction, and Power went to gaol for three years. The late rnspootor had an unusually eventful career, and he leaves behind a record for daring and intelligence that is worthy of emulation.