Police Blundering.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1801, 1 March 1886, Page 2

Police Blundering.

The police in Wellington City have distinguished themselves lately. A respectable man m.mnl Patterson had bought some live fowl* and was taking them home late on Saturday night, or rather early on Sunday morning. A pig headed Constable apprehended Patterson, on suspicion, and locked him up despite tbe poor man’s indignant protests. The police kept the man in ace l till Monday and upg eoted to make enquiries. On Monday a remand was granted, and on Tuesday the po.iee discovered that Patterson's statement was perfectly true, ond that tbe man had been most unwarrantably deprived of his liberty. Of course Patterson was discharged “ without a stain on his character,” Mr Wardell, K.M., remarking ” that he (Patterson) bad paid the penally of being out late at night." It will surely not be contended that being out late at carrying fowls is a crime for which a man may be locked up for two days and nights. The Wellington city police want to be sharply looked after and their somewhat checked. We should say that Mr Patterson has excellent grounds for raising an action for false imprisonment against tbe police authorities, and we think that a jury would give him heavy damages.