Nicholas SOBYE

EX-POLICE INSPECTOR SOBYE.

The funeral of the late ex-police Inspector Nicholas Sobye, of Bobbin Head-road, Pymble, took place on Saturday last, in the Church of England portion of the Northern Suburbs General Cemetery.

Inspector Sobye, joined the New South Wales police on April 1, 1876, and during his 38 years‘ service had many exciting experiences, chiefly in the northern districts of the State.

Before retiring, in 1914, he had charge of a metropolitan division, and was held in very high esteem by departmental officers and public alike.

Amongst those present at the interment were ex-Superintendents Walker and John Evans and Inspector Fowler, of the Police Department. Numerous wreaths were sent. Including one from Superintendent Childs, of Newcastle.

Forty Years in the Police Force.

SUPERINTENDENT EVANS’ CAREER.

On Saturday last ( 9 March 1912 ) there retired from the police force of New South Wales Superintendent John Evans, who on Sunday reached the age of 60 years. For some time prior to his retirement Superintendent Evans was stationed at Tamworth, in charge of the North-Western district, but there are still many living in this district who will remember him when, back in the 80’s ( 1880s ), he was stationed on the Richmond, at Ballina and Casino, and some years later at Lismore. The retiring Superintendent has just concluded a long and honorable service of 70 years in the cause of law and order. His police experience was not wholly gained in Australia. He has to thank the Cornish constabulary for a good initial grounding. At the age of 20, full of life and energy, he joined the force in Cornwall in 1872, remaining in the service three years. He had great admiration for his old chief and when the call of Australia came to him, his superior officer remarked : ” What, going to Australia to shoot kangaroos ? ” Evidently the colonies were not then associated with anything much more than kangaroos, and no doubt with blacks and bush rangers. Perhaps the spirit of adventure was deeply developed in the young officer, who, by the way, had gained the distinction of being one of the best wrestlers of the corps. The members of the constabulary gave their late comrade a hearty send-off on his voyage to distant shores.

A bosom friend of Constable Evans in the Cornish constabulary was Constable Sobye, now Sub-Inspector Sobye, of No. 1 Station, Clarence street, Sydney. They resigned at the same time, and journeyed to Australia together.

Superintendent Evans landed at Melbourne, where he had relatives, and after spending a few months in Victoria, made his way to Sydney, and in March, 1876, was accepted as a member of the N.S. Wales police force, being sent in the usual course to the depot. He did not remain long there, however. The authorities saw that he already possessed the training of a constable, and so, a fortnight after joining, he was sent to Armidale for duty. In 18 months’ time he was promoted to first-class constable, and placed in charge of Armidale stables, becoming senior mounted man. In another six months‘ time — the latter end of 1878 — he was transferred to Inverell, where he took up the duties of Sergeant Farnsworth ( retired ) under Sub-Inspector Harrison. Both these officers are now dead.

Shortly after Constable Evans went to Inverell, robberies from drunken men were of almost nightly occurrence. The officer determined to end them. Two or three men were suspected, but they managed to escape the clutches of the law till the wily officer arranged a trap. He himself lay down near a man he discovered drunk in the gutter, and by-and-bye two men came along. The night was light enough for the officer to distinguish their features, and when they commenced operating on the drunken man the disguised officer suddenly sprang up. The robbers were not mild characters, and they immediately started an assault on the constable. They gave him a bad time, but the officer, too, gave them a rough handling in attempting their arrest. The odds were too great against him, however, and they got away, but were speedily captured by other police, and subsequently received the reward for their misdeeds. The injuries sustained by Evans on this occasion were so severe that he was taken to the hospital in an unconscious state, remaining a patient for six weeks. While in the station he received notice of his promotion to the position of Senior Constable.

Gambling was rife at Tingha, some miles distant. Periodically, raids were made by the Inverell, Tingha, and other police. One night was particularly eventful. Thirty or forty Chinese had been arrested, and were on their way to Tingha lockup, when Senior-constable Evans was informed of the whereabouts of the ” keeper, ” who had made his escape by bursting through a window on detecting the approach of the police. The officer and the informer proceeded to the place, and found their man all right. They also found about 300 yelling, infuriated Chinamen. The presence of an informer and an officer of the law roused them to a great pitch of excitement, and they rushed the two, brandishing all kinds of weapons. It was an unenviable position for the officer and his companion. The constable fought for his life, and knocked the Chinese down like nine-pins, using both baton and fist. Still the Celestials came on, but many were felled to the ground. One particularly daring fellow he caught by the ‘pigtail,’ and held him, at the same time fighting the others with his right hand.

A Chinaman, wild with rage, here rushed at the officer with a cleaver. With a yell he raised the weapon, but a white man who had appeared on the scene, struck the blow aside. It was just in the nick of time, and the constable’s life was saved. Other whites hurried up, and the police, who had gone on to the lock-up with the prisoners, having heard of the occurrence, came galloping back. The Chinese were soon got under control, and more of their number, including the ‘ keeper,’ kept company with their compatriots in the cells.

Mr. G. H. Parker, who still lives at Tingha, was one of those who went to Constable Evans‘ assistance. If ever there was a time the policeman was tempted to draw the revolver it was on this occasion, but he refrained.

Senior-Constable Evans remained at Inverell until 1884, when he was transferred to Ballina, being stationed at that place for three years. His next shift was to Casino, having been selected to come here in consequence of his success in stock-stealing cases, by the late Inspector General of Police, Mr. Garvin, who at the time was superintendent in charge of the northern districts. A good deal of stock stealing had been going on in the Casino district, and it was Superintendent Garvin‘s opinion that the then Senior-constable Evans was the man to stamp it out. And he did. He came to Casino with the rank of sergeant, and soon got on the tracks of the offenders. Two of them, after their release from gaol, said good-bye to New South Wales, and crossed into Queensland, one being subsequently executed in the northern State on a charge of murder.

The Casino district was thoroughly cleared of crime in the shape of thefts of stock, and in 1894 Sergeant Evans was sent back to Armidale as senior-sergeant. Six years later he was promoted to the position of sub-inspector in charge of Inverell sub-district. In 1904 he was transferred to a similar position at Lismore.

During his career Superintendent Evans dealt with many serious cases. One of considerable interest occurred during his stay at Lismore. Two Hindoos were concerned, and after a lapse of five years the conscience of one troubled him, and he informed the police that his companion had committed murder, and concealed the body. The spot was pointed out, and sure enough the remains of a human being were brought to light. The Hindoo who committed the crime was sentenced to imprisonment for life.

Three years ago, Inspector Evans was sent to Tamworth, as superintendent of the north-western district, and he has administered the division with tact, resourcefulness, and ability, gaining at the same time the respect of the people. Shortly after his arrival at Tamworth he attended the annual meeting of the Prisoners’ Aid Association, and the opportunity was taken advantage of to give him a welcome. At that meeting a leading Sydney barrister described Superintendent Evans as ” a terror to evil doers.”

Superintendent Evans is a splendid horseman. In his prime days he has often been in the saddle for a couple of days at a time, in the chase for desperadoes. He took part in the pursuit of the Breelong blacksmith who spent many a day and night in the bush in search of a robber, ? ‘the hairy man,’ whose name was ? Burns. Superintendent Evans did not know how he came to be called the hairy man, for he was ? means possessed of a sup? dance of hair ; but he knows he committed many robberies in the Bundarra district, and had a habit of sticking up the mail coach. The ‘hairy man‘ was captured by a constable named Byrne, who came across him seated on a log, with two revolvers alongside him.

When Superintendent Evans had more direct charge of the constables — when, for instance, he was sergeant – it was his practice ( says the author of this sketch of his career ) to call a new man into his office, and give him a few words of advice. The first thing he impressed upon the recruit was to be truthful, pointing out that the liberties and lives of people often rested in the hands of constables. ” Don’t make a statement unless you are absolutely sure it is true,” was the officer’s warning.

Superintendent Evans, with Mrs. Evans and his daughter, will leave Sydney on March 27 by tho Otranto, on a trip to England, where he hopes to renew old associations.

[Extract from the Government Gazette.]

PROMOTION.

CHIEF SECRETARY’S DEPARTMENT.

HIS Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has been pleased to approve of the promotion of

Sub-Inspector 2nd Class Nicholas Sobye, of the Metropolitan Police, to the rank of Sub-Inspector of Police, 1st Class, — to take effect from the 1st August, 1909.

W. H. WOOD.

Senior constable Nicholas SOBYE, of Balmain, who had a bad attack of typhoid fever, is now well, and has resumed his duties.