CHARGES AGAINST INSPECTOR EMERSON (COPIES OF LETTERS, ETC., LEADING UP TO COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1897 Session II, H-34

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Sess. 11.—1897. NEW ZEALAND.

CHARGES AGAINST INSPECTOR EMERSON (COPIES OF LETTERS, ETC., LEADING UP TO COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON).

Laid on the Table of the House of by Leave.

Mr. A. Hendeeson to the Commissionee of Police. g IK Custom Street, Auckland, 30th September, 1897. With reference to the complaint formulated against Inspector Emerson, I may say that when the of the Prohibition League requested me to give a written statement as to what I witnessed I declined to do so. Probably a word of caution to the Inspector might have kept him straight for the future. Of course, a request from your department is virtually a command. I consider the Inspector was under the influence of drink, and for the time was offensive and objectionable. I am, &c, The Commissioner of Police, New Zealand. Adam Hendeeson (per J. G. H.).

Mr. W. Coopee to the Commissionee of Police, Wellington. gjj. Wyndham Street, Auckland, 30th September, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd instant, enclosing letter from Mr. Haselden to the Hon. the Minister of Justice with reference to certain charges made against Inspector Emerson. In reply to the questions contained in your letter to me, I beg to state that Mr. Haselden's communication is substantially correct, and that if an inquiry be held I shall be prepared to give in Auckland my own testimony as to the allegations made against Inspector Emerson. I have, 4c, Commissioner of Police, Wellington. W. Cooper.

The Commissionee of Police to Messrs. A. Henderson and W. Coopee. Bie,— 23rd September, 1897. I have the honour, by direction of the Minister of Justice, to forward for your information a letter making charges against Inspector Emerson, of the Police Department, Napier, and to request that on the receipt of this letter you will kindly inform me in writing as to whether these charges are correctly stated, and whether you are prepared to support them and give evidence thereon in any proceedings that may be taken before any Court or tribunal. I may add the Minister has been informed you are one of the gentlemen referred to in the letter before mentioned. I have, &c, A. Hume, Commissioner of Police. To Adam Henderson, Esq., Shipbuilder, North Shore, Auckland, and William Cooper, Esq., Barrister, Auckland.

Hon. T. Thompson to Mr. H. C. Haselden. (Telegram.) Wellington, 22nd September, 1897. FoBWAKD the names of the two gentlemen, fellow-travellers of Inspector Emerson on " Dingadee," and who are prepared to support charges. Names are required to forward to the Inspector for his explanation. T. Thompson. H. C. Haselden, Secretary, Temperance League, Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, "Wellesley Street, Auckland.

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Mr. H. C. Haselden to the Hon. T. Thompson. Auckland, 23rd September, 1897. In reply to yours, the gentlemen reporting occurrence on board " Dingadee" are William Cooper, barrister, Wyndham Street, and Adam Henderson, shipbuilder, North Shore. The Hon. Thomas Thompson, Wellington. H. C. Haselden.

Inspector Emeeson to the Commissionee of Police. The Commissioner. District Police Office, Napier, 11th September, 1897. The following is my reply to the charges made against me by the Auckland Temperance League contained in your memorandum, No. 607, of 17th ultimo. On Ist May last I went on board the " Dingadee "at the Spit, Napier, at 10 p.m. I had two games of cards with a gentleman passenger. We played euchre, and finished at 11 p.m. The steward would not allow any more playing. I proceeded to Gisborne and inspected the station, and returned by the tender " Snark" at about 10 p.m. It was then very rough. I went on board the " Dingadee "and, down to the cabin. I was perfectly sober. The Eev. Father Ahem was in my company till I left by the " Snark." I regret that he has left for Auckland; he may be found at any time, and can state as to my sobriety. The statements of the captain and steward of the " Dingadee," the master and deck-hand of the " Snark," and Sergeant Black, attached hereto, are perfectly correct: [These persons gave evidence before the Commissioner.] I had a violent fit of coughing, as I was suffering from the effects of a bad attack of influenza. I did not use the wash-hand-basin as a urinal, and did not spit on the floor, but used acb amber. One of the occupants of the cabin ordered me to stop coughing and spitting or he would have me removed. I said, "You are an unfeeling creature, and deserve kicking." In my opinion this is the sole cause of this untruthful and beastly lying report having been made against me, the informant knowing that I was an Inspector of Police. I did rise in the night on two occasions, went to the chamber, and spat into it or my handkerchief. I have never been accused of drunkenness before, and up to the present have not a black mark against me. Had I been drunk I could not have walked to the washhand-basin as alleged by my accuser. It seems he was not manly enough to report me, and I presume none of the Temperance League saw me, not having been present. I beg to request that the name of my accuser and all those implicated in making this filthy and lying charge against me be furnished to me, as I intend putting the matter in the hands of a solicitor. It seems strange that a delay of three months occurred before I was notified of the charges made. John Emeeson, Inspector.

The Commissionee of Police to the Seceetaey, Auckland Prohibition League. Bib,— 20th August, 1897. I have the honour, by direction of the Minister of Justice, to acknowledge his receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, relating to charges of misconduct imputed to Inspector Emerson, of Napier, and in reply to state for the information of your League that inquiries are now being made into the allegations made in your letter under reply. I have, &c, The Secretary, Auckland Prohibition and A. Hume, Commissioner. Temperance League, V.M.C.A. Buildings, Auckland.

Police Department (Commissioner's Office), Wellington, 17th August, 1897. Memorandum for Inspector Emerson, Napier. I am directed by the Hon. the Minister of Justice to forward the following extract from a letter from the secretary of the Auckland Prohibition and Temperance League, dated the 4th August, 1897, for your information, and for such explanation as you may desire to make :— " The officer charged with misconduct is Inspector Emerson, of Napier, and the offences with which he is accused are drunkenness and disgusting conduct. The scene of the misbehaviour of the Inspector was on board the s.s. " Dingadee," on the Ist and 2nd of May last, when he was a passenger from Napier to Auckland, the circumstances being shortly as follows: Inspector Emerson came on board the s.s. "Dingadee" at Napier on Saturday evening, and sat playing cards and drinking until 2 a.m. on Sunday, when he retired to his cabin much the worse for drink. Upon the steamer's arrival at Gisborne the Inspector went ashore (it is believed) to inspect the station and men there. He was brought off to the steamer on Sunday evening in a beastly state of intoxication, when he was guilty of most disgusting conduct, spitting about the floor of the cabin and using the washhand-basin as a urinal. The Inspector was so very drunk that he could not remove his boots or get into his bunk without assistance; in fact, he was helpless, and lay like a log on the floor until those who were occupying the same cabin came to his aid. During the night he got out of his bunk and again used the washhand-basin as a urinal. Upon one of the gentlemen remonstrating with him, the Inspector was abusive, and threatened to kick the gentleman referred to. Finally matters became so very unpleasant to the occupants of the cabin that they reported the matter to the steward, and the Inspector was removed." A. Hume, Commissioner of Police.

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Hon. T. Thompson to T. E. Tayloe, Esq., M.H.R. Deak Sir, — Office of the Minister of Justice, 9th August, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant. You will recollect that at the interview I had with the Eev. F. W. Isitt and yourself, in Wellington, I stated that, following the ordinary rule, if any persons or organizations had any charges to make against Inspector Emerson, or any other officer of police, such charges must bo formulated specifically in writing, when they would be inquired into. I beg to point out that your letter, now under reply, does not comply with the above condition, and that therefore, so far as it is concerned, lam unable to take action upon it. Since its receipt, however, I have received from the secretary to the Auckland Prohibition and Temperance League a letter containing definite charges against Inspector Emerson, and this letter is now receiving my attention. I will reply to that portion of your letter relating to illicit sales of liquor in the Clutha district in a separate communication in a few days. I have, &c, T. E. Taylor, Esq., M.H.E., Christchurch. T. Thompson.

Mr. H. C. Haselden to the Hon. T. Thompson. Sib,— V.M.C.A. Buildings, Auckland, 4th August, 1897. I have the honour to remind you of the fact that when a deputation from the Auckland Prohibition and Temperance League waited upon you in Auckland recently you promised to inquire into any specific charges laid against individual police officers or constables. Your reply to the deputation, having been reported in the local papers, was seen by two gentlemen in no way connected with the League, who have reported an instance which in the public interest it is deemed advisable to acquaint you with, and to ask for an inquiry into the circumstances. The officer charged with misconduct is Inspector Emerson, of Napier, and the offences with which he is accused are drunkenness and disgusting conduct. The scene of the misbehaviour of the Inspector was on board the s.s. " Dingadee," on the Ist and 2nd May last, when he was a passenger from Napier to Auckland, the circumstances being shortly as follows : Inspector Emerson came on board the s.s. "Dingadee" at Napier on Saturday evening, and sat playing cards and drinking until 2 a.m. on Sunday, when he retired to his cabin much the worse for drink. Upon the steamer's arrival at Gisborne the Inspector went ashore (it is believed) to inspect the station and men there. Ho was brought off to the steamer on Sunday evening in a beastly state of intoxication, when he was guilty of most disgusting conduct, spitting about the floor of the cabin and using the washhand-basin as a urinal. The Inspector was so very drunk that he could not remove his boots nor get into his bunk without assistance ; in fact, he was helpless, and lay like a log on the floor until those who were occupying the same cabin came to his aid. During the night he got out of his bunk and again used the wash-basin as a urinal. Upon one of the gentlemen remonstrating with him, the Inspector was abusive, and threatened to kick the gentlemen referred to. Finally matters became so very unpleasant to the occupiers of the cabin that they reported the matter to the steward, and the Inspector was removed. The gentlemen reporting the occurrence are well known to yourself, and occupy good positions in the city, and are well known to be men of probity and trustworthiness; they were fellowpassengers and occupied the same cabin with the Inspector, and are prepared to give evidence and to call other evidence in corroboration of their statement. I have, &c, H. C. Haselden, Secretary, Auckland Prohibition and Temperance League. The Hon. the Minister of Justice.

Exteact from Letter from Mr. T. E. Tayloe, M.H.E., re Conduct of Inspector Emerson. Deae Sic, — Cashel Street, Christchurch, 2nd August, 1897. Since I waited upon you in company with the Eev. F. W. Isitt respecting the conduct of Inspector Emerson I have been in communication with the witnesses in Auckland. They are prepared to give their evidence before any tribunal where they have the protection accorded witnesses giving evidence on oath. The nature of the offence alleged against the Inspector you are aware of ; upon receiving full details of the affair and the names of witnesses, will you instruct the Crown Prosecutor to take action against Emerson ? T. E. Tayloe. The Hon. T. Thompson, Minister of Defence, Wellington. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,250 copies), 10a. 6d.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB97. Price 3d.]