PRIVATE DETECTIVES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 183, 7 August 1935, Page 8

PRIVATE DETECTIVES

COMMENT BY MR. JUSTICE CALLAN GIVING OF EVIDENCE [ Per Press Association. 1 AUCKLAND, Aug. 6. Need to consider with caution the evidence of private detectives, was emphasised by Mr Justice Caliau, summing up in a divorce action beard in the Supreme Court. The evidence of several inquiry agents had been taken during the proceedings, and His Honor’s comments applied in particular to the failure of two of them to retain brief notes made at the time <f their observations. “Private detectives, gentlemen, from the very nature of their profession, have not very nice minds,” stated His Honor, addressing the jury. He found x ltat be had to agree with English authorities that the evidence of paid investigaters required careful examination. There were, of course, honest private detectives, and there was no reason for that not being the case in the present action. Oi e man who had been a private detective, had used notes (concerning his observations, and these were of assistance in spite of the criticism of the counsel. The position was different with the evidence of two other witnesses, a private inquiry agent and his assistant. His Honor advised the jury to consider the case as though neither of these witnesses had given evidence, and he sa : d an extraordinary and reprehensible habit, of de.-troying all contemporary records had been revealed in the case of thcrejnen.