I.—4a

38

DetectiveFarrell.

Ist Oct., 1878,

1065. The accounts were not right then and are not right even now ?—No ; they could never find out how much, because a lot of the pnpers were destroyed by the fire. I made inquiries of the delegates and district officers as to tho accounts, aird gave what information I got to Mr. Atchison. 1066. Mr. Barton] Was any portion of the building destroyed or injured?—No, I think not. There was no portion of tbe building injured. 1007. Hon. Mr. Fox] AVas not the floor on fire ?—No ; it had not time to get on fire. 1068. Mr. Swanson] Was not the paper on the walls burned? —No; the table, chairs, and floor were all wet with kerosene. In five minutes tho place would have been all on fire. 1069. Mr. Barton] AVho is the watchhouse-keeper at the central station ?—John Doran. 1070. Does he make any entries in tho charge-sheet?—l do not think he makes any entries at all. 1071. Do you know whether he reads or writes ? —I believe he cannot take a charge. 1072. Do you know the Pier Hotel?—l do. 1073. Have you ever gone there to see Atchison at that hotel, to get orders from him ?—No; I do not think I have. I have gone there to get orders from Sergeant Monaghan. 1074. Tou have seen Monaghan there often'? —Tes. 1075. AVas Atchison there at the same time? —Tes. 1076. How long ago is that ? —I could not tell the date. It was before Monaghan left the force. Tip to his leaving, Monaghan and the Inspector were at the hotel, I might say, nightly —scarcely ever out of it. 1077. Tou have gone there yourself for orders ?—Tes. I have gone to see Monaghan. I did not ask for the Inspector, because Monaghan was then my superior officer in rank. 1078. Can you say bow Monaghan and Atchison were engaged on any of these occasions on which you went for orders ? What were they doing ? —T could only speak as to what common report said. 1079. AVere you never present in the room ? —No ; when I went there I sent into the room. 1080. Do you know whether more persons than these two went there ? —All the public knows there was what was called "the Pier-Hotel mob," or "the Pier-Hotel gang." They all used to frequent there. 1080 a. Hon. Mr. Fox] What were they doing there ? —Gambling and drinking. 1081. And do you say that Atchison and Monaghan were part of the " Pier gang ?" —Tes; it consisted of a man named Perrier, at that time editor of the Times ; McCarthy, of the telegraph ; Atchison, Monaghan, and some others. 1082. Mr. Barton] AVas Mr. Marchant, the late City Engineer, one of them ? —Tes. 1083. These people used to frequent this place ?—Tes. ICB4. Hon. Mr. Gisborne] Tou say McCarthy of the telegraph. Who is that?—lt is McCarthy, the partner of Captain Holt. 1085. Of the Press Agency?—Tes. 1086. Did you see these others ?—Oh, yes ; I know they went there. More than that: if constables came down from the country they would go there to see the Inspector. I have heard Sergeant Purcell, of Foxton. Constable Byrne, and Constable Donnelly, when they have been in town, say they would go down to see the " old man," meaning Atchison, and they would go down to the Pier, and drink and gamble. About the same time, when the publichouses were closed on Sunday night, these people would come to the station and drink brandy. I have seen the Inspector, and Monaghan, and Perrier, and Fife. This used to take place in Monaghan's room. 1057. Did you ever hear of a quarrel taking place at the Pier Hotel on one of these occasions, in which Mr. Marchant got a black eye ? —I do. It was a matter of public notoriety how he got it. He called Atchison a liar, or something of that sort. Atchison told him to put up his hands, and then gave him a black eye. I was not present; but I saw the black eye, and it was generally reported that Atchison gave it him. 1058. Was this a report amongst the police?—lt was reported all over the town, and of course the men got to know of it. 1089. AVere you present when the men were paraded and asked respecting my speech ?—I was. LO9O. Who paraded them ?—Sergeant Smith. Mr. Atchison was present. 1091. Can you state what he asked them ? —There was a general question about ill-usage of prisoners by any of the men: if anybody knew anything about it. I did not hear anybody reply. I did not reply. 1092. Were you present at any other parade ?—No ; that is the only parade I was at. I was instructed to attend, and did so. 1093. That was the only question asked ? —Yes ; and there was no reply. 1094. Hon. Mr. Gisborne. ] Has there been any ill-feeling between you and Atchison ?—No; he has been an exceedingly good friend to me. I was ill for four months, and during my illness it was put about that I was Mr. Barton's informant, and now, hearing that my subordinates are punished for speaking to me, I am bound to come forward and protect them. If they are to be punished for speaking to me, then lam worse than a felon. I have been four months sick, and on the 19th of this month I resumed duty. I soon saw there was something wrong, for I got sixty summonses put into my hands to serve. 1 looked at Sergeant Smith when he gave them to me, and said, " Surely you are not going to send me serving jury summonses." He said, "I have been ordered to do so hy Mr. Atchison." I saw Atchison, and he confirmed the order; and I said no more, but did the duty. At the same time, there are most important matters being left unattended to. These documents [holding up a bundle of papers], which I have this morning taken from the sergeant's table, in the presence of the clerk, will show that. There is a case of suspected infanticide, which is not being looked after, and the result will be that, when I am sent to look after it, the woman will be up and well, and it will be impossible almost for me to discover anything. 1095. The infanticide case was lying on the table on the same day as you were sent serving summonses ?—Tes ; the dates will show that. These documents are all minuted by Mr. Shearman ;