Information that a felony has been committed and that a person indicated is suspected would be in law sufficient to justify a British Constable or other officer of a British court of Justice having the power of a Constable, in apprehending the alleged offender and detaining him until the arrival of a proper warrant.
Notwithstanding this opinion, however, and the great respect to which it is entitled, I think it advisable to clear away any doubts that may still remain on the subject, and to make some express provisions in cases of arrest by telegraphic authority. The latter is one of very great importance as telegraphic instructions for arrest are in many instances sent in order to apprehend a party accused at a varying Contingent Station or port of call.
In these cases even still more than in the cases of issuing a warrant, I would submit that the telegram should be sent by some recognized competent and responsible authority. And in order to secure uniformity and prevent questions arising from the wording of every telegram received, that all telegrams should be in a certain form to be prescribed by the Law or as near thereto as circumstances will permit.
That they should bear the signature...