TRAPPING THIEVES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 12867, 27 May 1905, Page 4

TRAPPING THIEVES.

It pleased , the Stii>en'diar^ Magistrate on Friday to find fault with the > methods - adopted by the police itp detect a thief. The circumstances have already been detailed in, our/ cohimns. Briefly, a young, man was suspected of being- concerned in some petty thefts, but there was no evidence against him. In order to confirm or dismiss ! the suspicions a trap was set, and the suspect fell into it. His Worship took exception to tne trap, anjd when the* counsel ap-, pearing with the police remarked that he thought tlie police, instead of being found fatilt with, were to be commended for the worthy steps taiken to sheet home the guilt, he (Mr Hutchison) said that he did not regard any thing as worthy that had a lie on tho face of it. In Police Court ethics the xmd frequently justifies tne means, or at any ra^e is held to do so. \ How often do we find plain clothes police; men being detailed to trap '" sly-ga:og sellers? The fact of a man thus representing himself to be what he is not in order to trap an offender is just as much a He as was the method adopted at Moturoa. True, there are magistrates who object to the slygrog traps, | lint it is a ccjmpion method of obtaining convictions. The point, however, is whether such trickery is to be resorted to for the sake of catching thieves and sly-grog sellers, or whether the ethics of the police force are to be as those of a Young Men's • Cnristiau Association, i j and crime go unpunished because it cannot be detected without trickery and, if it pleases the; ' Magistrate to so call it, lying. It is, perhaps, difficult to draw tlie line exactly where deception and trapping arc justifiable and where they are not, but in the case tinder noticetho end seems to its to have justified tlie means.

Messrs E. J. Carthcw arid Go. have a list of landed properties for sale in this issue.

On Montday next, 29th May, Mr Newton King will hold a clearing sale of dairy cattle at Frankley Road, on account of Mr Isaac Holloway. The cows, althfougji few in number, are a rear" choice lot, arid will prove a valuable acquisition to any milkiMg herd.

The balance-sheet of the Government Life Insurance Department is now available, and shows that the Department has had a successful year. • The funds at the close of the year amounted • to £3,665,582, an increase on the previous year of £153,521. The .total premiums from all sources, were £322,510, while the claims from, death, surrender, and maturity were; £243,675! The expenses of manage-; ment have been considerably reduced from £38,332 in 1903, to £34,786 in. 1904. {-

Nothing better in the way of magazines can be -found than the jVtay number of ihe Review of Reviews which is just to hand. It is an admirable compilation, surpassing even lat© issues, and that is saying, a great deal. Following the "History of the Month" there are interesting; articles on tho achievements of "Astronomical Photogrtypfcy.'* and "The Exupp r Works 5^ Germany," whilst the interesting article on the 'transformation of plants and flowers, which was commenced in the April issue, is continued. There is an^exccedingly well-got-up and readable article on the Aboriigines of Central Australia by Captain Hl.H 1 . V. Barclay, tho head of an exploring expedrfton. The question of tho treatment of aborigines is also dealt with and a remedy suggested. Interesting interviews with notable persons by both the Australasian and English editors appear. The character sketch is of Lord Milner and Lord Selbornc, the late and present South African High Commissioners. The Book of the Month is Mrs Humphreys Ward's "Marriage of William Ashe." In addition to these' there lire the London Punch pictures, and the current History of the Month in caricature. Altogether iS&& magazine is * n every way worthy of its gop4 name, and speaks well for its future under the editorship of Mr W. H. Judkins. For Up-to-date Printing apply &* Herald Office.