The Wrong Man Arrested.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 170, 7 February 1888, Page 2

The Wrong Man Arrested.

An elderly man named John Gardiner, who was arrested by the Westport police and forwarded to Blenheim, was brought up on remand on Saturday charged with sticking up on the 12th of January Edward George Henderson, a young man who is boundary keeper at Mount Patrick station. Henderson was quite positive that the accused was not the man who had fired at him. lie said that the man who tired the shot was as dark as a nigger, with long black hair, five i'cet lon inches in height, whereas Gardiner is only about live feet seven inches.

The Magistate asked if the description sent to the police had been the samo as given in Court ?

Sergeant Scanlon replied that it was, and that a similar diseriptiou was sent to the Inspector at Nelson. The Magistrate said it was an extraordinary thing how the police could have arrested the accused in the face of such a discription, as he in no way answered Gardiner.

The prisoner was then discharged, and so fur as can lie learned bo lias been turned adrift after being in custody for about a fortnight. It was stated he iiad walked overland from Christchurch, the work lie lmd done being cutting firewood for Mr Cook, of Flaxburne station.

Sergeant Scanlan said the accused was a more fit subject for the hospital than anything else, and that was the opinion of everybody who saw him hi Court.