THE STORY OF THE PACKING CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5582, 4 June 1896, Page 3

THE STORY OF THE PACKING CASE.

A CLEVER DISGUISE. KIRBY'S PLAN FOR DOUBLING BACK. [Per Press Association.] SYDNEY, June 4. Kirby has been arrested. Just before the sailing of the Tarawera for Auckland yesterday, the police were informed by one of the wharf hands that Kirby was an intending passenger. They accordingly watched the vessel, and noticed a shabbily-dressed, decrepit old man going on board. They examined him, and found that he had a deformed finger. Kirby saw that the game was up, and confessed his identity. He became communicative, and said that if he was in the mud, someone very high up in New Zealand was in the mire too. He stated that after he was released on bail, he arranged for a trip to Sydney, and was taken on board the Talune in the box found on the arrival of the steamer in Sydney. The lid was secured by two bolts, with nuts inside, so that he could release himself. He got out of the box immediately the steamer left Wellington, and managed to secrete himself and to. obtain food for the remainder of the voyage. From his liiding-place he saw the constables- who. boarded the Talune on her arrival in Sydney. Notwithstanding that the' police, closely watched the wharf and exainined everyone who landed, he managed to get "ashoire, but defelihes to divulge by what means. Tho police theory of the matter is that when the Tarawera arrived here, she was berthed close to the Talune, and that Kirby seized an opportunity to jump from one steamer to the other, that he hid on boai-d the Tarawera for a time, and then succeeded in making his way ashore. When he was arrested, a return ticket to Auckland, under an assumed name, was found on him. Sergeant Higgins and Constables Carson and Allason ran Kirby to earth, the last-named actually effecting his arrest.

[ - WELLINGTON, June 3. | It is stated that a large case -was put on the Talune at the last moment, which went ', on top ot* the rest of the cargo in the main hatch. A constable who was watching for Kirby remembered seeing this case, but there was nothing suspicious about it. A nephew of Kirby's was a passenger by .the vessel. Kirby was by no means popular in the force, and had made himself extremely disliked by his conduct towards those he had to work with. By those who understand the feeling towards him the idea of connivance is scouted. The morning paper goes so far as to say that there is only one policeman in the force suspected of having any sympathy with tho ex-detective. _ WELLINGTON, June 4 The case in which Kirby escaped was probably constructed with spaces between the boards to admit air, and these spaces were covered by battens inside. Similar battens were found by. the police when searching Balssett's house, and knowing that a case had gone on board the Talune as luggage at the last moment, they cabled to the Sydney police. to look out for it. When the case was put on board it was so heavy that it took two men to lift it, and the officials here now state that they were convinced all along that there had been a man in it, though it was empty on arrival. The document found was not a draft, but a cheque signed by a Napier, resident. A warrant has been issued for Bassett's arrest. He has been under the surveillance of the Sydney police since his arrival in Sydney. For some reason, up to noon to-day no. official intimation had reached the New Zealand authorities of the arrest. Colonel Hunie has just (2.15 p.m.) received a cable message from the Sydney police, confirming the news of Kirby's .arrest.