17

I.—4a

Super in tendent Shearman.

25th Sept., 1878.

Mr. Jones.

25th Sept., 1878,

379. Hon. Mr. Gisborne] Was that in answer to an inquiry, or volunteered ?—He said he would like to see the letter I intended writing to Mr. Barton, and I sent two letters down, that which appears in the papers, and another one pointing out the course I would have taken ; the latter I should have sent to Mr. Barton. 380. Tou wrote that to the Under Secretary ? —-He told me he would like to see what correspondence I purposed having with Mr. Barton upon this subject, and I sent him down the letter I proposed writing to Mr. Barton. 381. Was that before you sent in your final report or afterwards?—lt was before. 382. Mr. Bunny] Have you a copy of that letter ? Tou say you sent two letters, or that one was sent, after alterations, if I understand you, to Mr. Barton. Have you a copy of that ?—Tes. 383. AVill you bring that letter on Friday'?—Tes. 384. Mr. Barton] Tou say in your letter to the Commissioner of Armed Constabulary—that is, Colonel Reader ?—No ; that is Colonel AVhitmore. 385. Well you say (read). Now, where did you get information that the alleged offence was supposed to have been committed some time ago ?—From the detective. 386. The detective told you the alleged offence had taken place some time ago ?—Tes. 387. Then you were aware the offence had been committed ?—Oh, no; I was not aware any offence had been committed. 388. Tou say the detective told you it had taken place ?—That it was supposed to have taken place. 389. Oh ! AVell, by whom was it supposed to have taken place ? By me ?—I supposed, from information gleaned, that the offence had taken place. 390. From whom did you glean that ? —-From the information I received. 391. AVho was the person from whom you received the information ? Tou know that phrase, " information received," is often used in a Court when it is not desirable to divugle the names of persons from whom the police get information ; but before this Committee there must be no concealment? —I have no wish to conceal anything. 392. I do not suppose you have, but you said in your report that the offence was supposed to have been committed some time ago. Now, that did not appear in my speech ?—No ; I inferred that from what the detective and Inspector Atchison said. 393. Well, what did the detective tell you? Tou have told us what Inspector Atchison said?— I asked him if he thought there was any truth in the report, and he shook his head, and said he did not think there was any truth in the report. 394. Therefore you concluded the offence took place some time ago ? —From what' I saw in the papers I supposed it bad taken place some time ago, because Sergeant Monaghan was suspected. 395. I did not say Sergeant Monaghan ? —I cannot say what you said. 396. Tou had an extract handed to you which was sent to the Government by the Mayor of AVellington ? —Tes. 397. That contained a charge that an offence had been committed, and you confirm that by adding the further fact that the offence is supposed to have taken place some time ago ? —I had no reason for making that statement beyond what 1 gleaned from the inquiries I made, and from what I saw 7 in the public prints. 398. Hon. Mr. Gisborne] About this letter you were going to send: First you got a letter from the Government, directing you to institute an inquiry, or to make inquiries. That was an official minute ? —Tes. 399. Very well. Then you saw the Police Inspector, then Colonel Reader, and he, either in answer to your request or otherwise, said you had better not see Mr. Barton ?—Tes. I suggested to Colonel Reader that I should see Mr. Barton, and he intimated that I had better not do so. 399 a. Tes ; I understand that. I have now come to this. That is how it follows. But now I do not understand whether this draft of a letter which you wished to send to Mr. Barton was written after or before this ? —There is a date upon the letter, and I will bring all the documents on Friday. At the present time I cannot recollect. Richabd Jones, being duly sworn, was examined. 400. The Chairman] Tou were known by tho name of Alfred Jones some time ago ?—No. 401. Tou were, some time ago, arrested here in Wellington for drunkenness? —Tes; at least they said I was drunk. ' 402. Tou were handcuffed?—Tes; but I should like to know why I am being asked these questions. 403. AVell, there are complaints that you were ill-treated, and the Committee wishes to get at the facts ?—AVell, I should like to know where this information comes from, because I have not given the information. I would not have had such a thing occur for anything. 404. Tou mean that you are annoyed at being brought up in the matter?—l thought it was wrong when I was arrested and brought up at the Court, but this only makes matters worse, I consider. 405. Complaints have been made, and we wish to know whether you were cruelly treated or not by the police ?—I was handcuffed, and not allowed bail. 406. Where did the police arrest you ? —ln Ghuznee Street. 407. Were you noisy at the time ? —No. 408. AVhy were the handcuffs put on? —Because I refused to go. I was with two others at the same time —persons lodging in the same house as I was —and I was really the only sober one of the three. One was rather drunk, and I and the other person were seeing him home. The first thing I knew of anything wrong was that a policeman caught hold of me by the shoulder and said, " Here, I want you ; come along with me." 409. And you resisted ?- —Tes ; because I had no right to go. 410. Tou were not drunk ?—No.