A BUSHRANGER.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16258, 8 July 1918, Page 2

A BUSHRANGER.

CHASE IN NEW SOUTH WALES

(from our owx correspondent.)

SYDNEY, Juno 26,

Tho police are having a merry chase after the "Red Bushranger" in the wild and broken country beyond Armidnle, in New South Wales. This mysterious person—whoso title is earned by a mass of red whiskers—first made his appearance a couple of months ago, &nd is generally believed to bo a German who has escaped from captivity. Ho makes a play of great ferociousness, and is said to threaten to murder any policeman who comes within range. but his worst recorded crime so far is _ petty theft. He emerges from mountain and forest fastnesses at intervals to raid some lonely Sut or outlying house, and carries off food and small articles like ly to be useful to him. His latest depredations are reported from tho Dalmorton district, where he has taken food from a few places and, in one instauue, left a very battered overcoat in place of a good ono. It is said that he recounts how ono mounted constable narrowly escaped death at his hands. It that tho Red Bushranger was lying in a crevice in some rocks between Ebor and Dalmorton, while a searching constaMe steadily approached. As the officer drew nearer the bushranger "drew a bead" upon him, and was determined to shoot when the searcher f.ot within a certain distance. But by sotno chance the constable changed his direction, and gradually passed out of range, and tJhe outlaw made tha best of his way to the remoter hills. At one place, Little River, the bushranger was almost trapped. The polico ring was gradually closing upon him, and then the police were suddenly drawn from the trail by tbe report of a robbery near Glen Innes. They chased and caught a suspicious-looking stranger, but tho latter was able to clear himself of the theft charge When the officers - got back on to tho ric'nt track at Little River, Redbeard had made good his escape, and had already started a series of thefts in the Dalmorton district, where it is supposed j he still is. I