SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1920, Page 7

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS.

PETITION TO PARIJAMENT/ i ! On Tuesday Mr, J. P. Luke presented' to Parliament a petition by Matthew livingstone praying for an independent enquiry into the circumstances of his recent arrest on a serious charge. The petitioner said that last August he? was the victim of a conspiracy by two Wellington detectives, who arrested him on charges of a most disgraceful character and locked him in the cells far two days, when he was brought before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., and acquitted.' He alleged that the detectives, by means of threats, persuaded a young girl to sign a statement respecting the alleged offences, which statemerit was concoeted by the detectives, and was wholly and utterly false. During the greater part of the period in which the offences were said to have been committed the petitioner was absent'from Wellington, as could easily have been showjji to the satisfaction of the detectives. The petitioner had no knowledge that there was a charge against him until lie was accosted by the detectives, and the girl's statemmeot read to him, when he voluntarily drove the detectives in his car to his lodgings and allowed them to make a complete search of his .bedroom, garage and the whole premises occupied by him, but nothing of an incriminating character was discovered. He was informed that no further action would be taken, But he was arrested, and thq detectives afterwards proceeded to his lodgings and again searched them, but without finding anything to support the charge against him.—N.Z. Times. ,