CHIEF DETECTIVE HERBERT

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 4

CHIEF DETECTIVE HERBERT

FAREWELL BY BENCH AND BAR. After the sitting of the City Police Court on Saturday the members of the Bar took the opportunity of bidding good-bye to Chief Detective Herbert, who is to proceed in a similar capacity to Christchurch. There was a representative attendance of members. Ihe non. n. Y. VV idtipwson, S.M., was on the bench. Mr J. B. Callan, jun. (president of the Otago Law Society), addressing the bench, said that the members of the Bar had met for the purpose of saying good-bye to their old friend Mr Herbert, who had occupied the position of chief detective for a number of years in Dunedin with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the Bench and Bar, and to the community generally. He thought that he could assure the chief detective that they all appreciated his many abilities, and had enjoyed exceedingly the pleasant relations with him. They wished him every success in his work in Christchurch, that was, such success as was commensurate with the privileges of lawyers and the rights of criminals. —(Laughter.) 'lhe time was past when the chief detective might achieve successes of the more sensational nature, but. looking back at his record, they could speak with confidence of hie undoubtedly successful work as chief detective in Dunedin. As regarded his work in the court, he had always been pre-eminently fair and capable. Even the members of the Bar, and particularly the younger members, had in watching the chief detective at his work managed to pick up points in the art of advocacy. Most of them had learned at times that he was indeed a much better advocate than they were. He w T as a thorough student of human nature, had a keen sense of humour, a quick mind, and great courage, and it was these faculties that had made him a successful advocate. It was to be regretted that he was leaving Dunedin, but he could safely say that he was only voicing the sentiments of all concerned when he repeated that they all appreciated the chief many good qualities. Mr W. C. MacGregor (Crown Prosecutor) expressed pleasure at having the opportunity of speaking. He would like to say that from his experience of Chief Detective Herbert he had much reason for thinking him eminently fitted for the position that ho had occupied. Ho had always found him to be very fair, not striving unduly after a conviction, but laying his cases before the court with fairness. It was not the duty of a police officer to extort admissions or confessions unfairly. He thought that Chief Detective Herbert had been very successful in his work, and he had a great deal to his credit as a man and a police officer.

Mr A. C. Hanlon said that he could heartilv endorse all that had been said, and he regretted that what might be called the exigencies of service had necessitated the transfer of Chief Detective Herbert from Dunedin to Christchurch, more specially as the time had almost arrived when he would come under the superannuation scheme. He had, lua supposed, come into contact with the chief detective more than any of the other members of the Bar in Dunedin, and ho could safely say that in all his practice he had never met a police officer who had treated him, and. Indeed, treated all those with whom he had come into contact, with greater consideration than had Chief Detective Herbert. The case against an accused person was always put clearly, but anything that might be brought forward in favour of that accused person was not forgotten. Chief Detective Herbert was always fair, and he was very sorry ho was going away. He wished him at the end of his service—and valuable service it must have been to the department—all good fortune and a pleasant and enjoyable life in his well-earned retirement.

Mr Widdowson, S.M., said he thought it was fitting that, upon the eve of the departure of the chief detective from Dunedin, they should say farewell to him in the court, with which he had been so long associated. Chief Detective Herbert was the last of the police officers who wore connected with this court when he came to Dunedin, ton years and a-half ago. Ho had boon in Dunedin as chief detective for over 12 years, and during that time he had earned the esteem and good-will of the Bench, of the Bar, and of the general public. With regard to his work in this court, ho could only say that it had been marked by courtesy, and in the conduct of his cases the chief detective had displayed ability and great fairness. The chief detective had not only placed all the facts against an accused person before the court, but he had also presented all the facts favourable to that person, and informed the court of any extenuating or mitigating circumstances. Speaking on behalf of the Bench, he might eay that he appreciates! what had been done by Chief Detective Herbert. He bad been a great help to them. They hoped that in hie new sphere he would be as happy and ■successful in the sense mentioned by Mr Callan as ho had been here, and they hoped he would be as successful in the conduct of his cases as ho had been here. Mr J. R. Bartholomew regretted that he was unablo to be present, but endorsed all that he (Mr Widdowson) had said. Mr Callan then presented Chief Detective Herbert with a lady's toilet case for Mrs Herbert, n.s some tangible record of the fact that Chief Detective Herbert- had been greatly admired, and his services highly appreciated during his long stay in the district. Chief Detective Herbert, in reply, said that he was very flattered, indeed, at the earnest and sincere compliments that had been passed on him and his work generally. He had no idea that his work was so highly appreciated, but be knew that the members of the legal profession in Dunedin were strong personal friends of his. The sentiments the Bar had expressed of him he also entertained of them. He thanked them for their expression of goodwill, their many kindnesses, and the handsome present they had presented to his wife, and intimated that he wotdd look upon Dunedin as hia home, and return later. He had never lived in any one place before for 12 years.