The Fraser-Darby Case.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1823, 21 April 1886, Page 2

The Fraser-Darby Case.

Some little time ago we referred generally to the charges made by a person named J, Merchant Fraser against Constable Darby, of Carterton, Since then Mr Stratford, the Resident Magistrate, has delivered his judgment in the case, finding the charges against the Constable to be groundless, and ordering Fraser, the informer, to pay all the costs of the proceedings. With the justice oi this decision wc entirely agree. The case against Constable Darby was an entirely trumped up affair, the outcome of ill-feeling ou the part of Fraser towards the person attacked. Fraser, for reasons which were obvious enough to the people of Carterton, had an ill will towards Constable Darby, and so triad to get up a scries ol charges against him of wrongful acta and neglect of duty in connection with his duties as a police officer. To accomplish this purpose, Fraser adopted some very questionable means. Ho hung about bars and billiard looms in hotels, took careful note as to wind her the closing hour was observed to a minute of time, and watched in the role of a common spy, to discover if a single drink were sold during prohibited hours. Fraser, also became deeply interested in “ Calcutta sweeps ” and the drawing thereof -each and every of his proceedings being directed to the sole aim and end ol trying to prove that Constable Darby was neglectful of his duty in not looking closely alter the conduct of the Carterton hotels and any possible breaches of tire Licensing Act. In those high minded and virtuous endeavors, it is sad to relate that Fraser altogether failed to accomplish the object he bad in Tiew—the utter discomfiture and ruin of Constable Darby, Fraser’s “got up case” against the Constable utterly broke down in Court. Fraser himself, when put under the screw of a stiff cross-examination, completely demolished his own case. Then hig own witnesses, called for the prosecution of Constable Darbv, not only proved nothing against that officer, but also showed that) Fraser himself was a rather contemptible

fellow, who at various limes had placed himself iu the most questionable positions, alike humiliating and degrading. In truth, as the case was being heard iu Court, it speedily became evident that it was Fraser and no' Constable Darby who was really placed on his trial. And out of that trial Fraser has come very bad indeed. It is not pleasant for a person to be compelled to admit in the witness box that he has 'acted the part of a spy and informer. In every age and in every country “ the spy and informer ” has been held in loathing and contempt. Such creatures have been used as vile tools by despotic and corrupt Governments to serve tiro purpose of the time, and have been liberally paid for their despicable work. But though those wretches get their money reward, they paid a heavy penalty for their gain. When recognised and detected in the streets they were hooted, pelted, and otherwise maltreated by the people. They had to go about in fear and trembling carrying their lives in their bauds. They were hated and abhored by the great body of the people. Sometimes, indeed, the “ spy and informer ” was seized by the indignant populace audhad his wretched soul beaten and trampled out of his worthless body in an outburst of popular wrath. And so from those old days of tradition has come down to the present time, that the spy and informer is regarded as being the meanest and most degraded of human creatures that walks upon the face of the earth—a wretched thing, to be shunned, abhored and held in utter contempt, Fortunately, there are scarcely any specimens of the spy and iulormet to be found in this colony. We have not yet arrived at such an advanced stage of corrupt civilisation as to need “ private enquiry offices ” and a tribe of vile creatures who will watch the acts of men and women, hour by hour through the day and night, in order to get up the case of a husband or wife for the Divorce Court. Nor has “ the spy and informer ” yet come into existence for the purpose of convicting hotel keepers of selling a pint of beer after hours or on Sundays. This latter matter is left to the police, with whom it is a thing of simple duty to see that the Lionising Act is not infringed. It would be difficult indeed to get an honest, independent New Zealand colonist to take up the vile trade of spy upon hotel keepers, and to go into the witness box to give evidence to secure their conviction for breaches of the law. This creature Fraser has not done this. He has only frequented hotels as a sort of " Peeping Tom and Sneaking Jerry ” for the purpose of getting up evidence against a policeman, that he (the policeman) did not do his duty in prosecuting hotel keepers for assumed infractions of the Licensing Act. But we confess that there does not seem to be very much difference between acting as spy and informer against a hotel keeper, and doing the same thing for the purpose of trumping up a case against a police constable. Both actions are alike contemptible, and this person Fraser by his recent conduct has made himselt odious in the opinion of all rightthinking men and women in the Wairarapa. It is much to be deplored that a person of Fraser’s stamp should ever have been placed in charge of a public school. Fortunately, Fraser has been removed from that position, and, if he is wise, he will now quietly disappear and be seen no more iu a district where his conduct has gained for him a most unenviable notorirty and a fame which marvellously resembles infamy.