KIRBY'S ARREST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7653, 11 June 1896, Page 2

KIRBY'S ARREST

THE PRISONER COMMUNICATIVE.

THE ARREST OF BASSETT. Wellington, to-day. The Daily Telegraph of Sydney states that on being arrested Kirby became very communicative. Ho expressed regret that a career of 20 years in the police force should have come to such an unsatisfactory termination. It was gathered from his remarks that the charge against him, that ot obtainiug £700 from a resident of Timaru 14 years ago by threats to expose a crime, came to tho knowledge of the New Zealand authorities as far back as 1894, and that he was required by his superior officer to make a written explanation of the matter. This he did. Tho subject was then allowed to drop. Quite recently, however, tho Government decided to take action owing, it is understood, to their receiving additional particulars about the case from au outside source, aud Kirby found himself under arrest on a criminal accusation.

Referring to tho Bassott arrest, the TeleRraph says that he camo over in the steamer Talune with Kirby, bub travelled under the namo of J. A. Lewis, and this name was upon the box in which Kirby was taken aboard the Bteamor at Wellington. When arrested Baasett denied that he was the person he was taken for. He declared that his name was William George, and that he did not know Kirby or anything about him. On being taken to tho Central police station ho, however, admitted that lie was the man named in tho warrant. Bassotl is about 30 yeais of age, and is described as a clerk. Tiie police suspected that Bnsaett and Kirby were acnuained. Tp to the time of Kirby's arrest they had kept the other man under surveillance, believing that by doing this they would be certain in the course of a day or two to come upon the missing detective. The officers of the.Tulune conejder that Kirby must have escaped from tho hold of tho vessol while the hatch was removed for the mails to bo taken on deck ns tho vessel was proceeding up Sydney harbor, and that lie escaped ashore when tho ship was berthed. They any that two women recognised Kirby walking in the Btreets of Sydney, and after following him gave information to a clerk in the Union Company's office. The latter proceeded to the wharf and informed the police, who effected the arrest. At no time during tlio voyage was Kirby on deok.