CHIEF JUSTICE CRITICISES DETECTIVE'S ACTION

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 434, 6 May 1932, Page 3

CHIEF JUSTICE CRITICISES DETECTIVE'S ACTION

MAN DETAINED FOR LONG QUESTIONING Press Association. —Copyright. WELLINGTON, Thurs.—Strong comment was passed in the Supreme Xourt to-day by the Chief Justice, Sir .Michael Myers, upon the action -of a detective in keeping a man in the detective office for three or four hours white endeavouring to obtain a statement from him.

The accused man, Arthur St. Clair lsbester, was charged with false pretences concerning the promotion of some business ventures. He said he had been forced by the detective to go .to the detective office and had been detained for upwards 'of four hours, although he had refused to make a statement.

The Chief Justice questioned the detective as to the reason for such a course. "I can't see any justification," he said, "for keeping the man in the detective office for three ■or four hours. Some of these days there will be trouble over this kind of thing. 1 am sorry to 'have to ■ask. these questions and make thesy comments. .. ii>' '«* * ■ •

His Honour" returned to the subject in his address to the jury. "And now," lie said, "I have to refer o a quasi ion of considerable importance and public interest. It has been shown that this man was taken to the .detective office and kept, then? for probably four and a-ha'lf hours At the time the police had a complete statement from one of the complainants. No warrant was issued but the man was. taken to the' detective station. Fie was told tlv-* charges which had boeh made against lihn,-but he said he did not intern! to make 'a statement, yet. He was kept, in the office for four and a-half hours. • "1 would,be the last to say or do anything" which would embarrass the police in the execution of ; their duty, but I do want to say that the action in this ease was wrong. ..The police *jarinot complain if the .statement is made that they are not extracting Statements properly. .11 mention the matter in order that the heads of the police department will, take the mutter up'and see that this practice doe:-: hot become a habit. It' should .always, be remembered that under cur British- law a.'man is always defined to be innocent until he is proved guilty ■ • I-only wish to add that it in the circumstances the accused had made a statement, t doubt if I would 1 have permitted it to be used." The;, jury/-returned a verdict of not gu'ttty- -'' : - -' - ■ : I*. ' ' i