RUN TO EARTH.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 766, 15 March 1910, Page 4

RUN TO EARTH.

. CAPTUBE OP JOSEPH POWELKA (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Palmerston, March 14. The prisoner, Joseph Powelia, who escaped from the : Palmerston gaol at midday on Saturday, was recajitured about two o'clock this afternoon at Await uri. A'Dout a dozen members of tho Palmerston and Feilding police, with the officers : stationed in : the out-districts of Ashhurst and Kongotea, etc., continuously scoured the country 'from the time of Powelka's escape, and they had formed such a cordon that -it was almost impossible for him. to get through. About 7 o'clock tins mormng, Sergeant Bowdeh, of Peilding, went into some scrub in a gully, between tiiat town and Kimbolton, to lie in wait, and was somewhat surprised, as he entered one side of the scrub, to see his quarry bolt out at tho 'other. Powelka. showed: a good pair of heels; and More tie sergeant could get on to the rising ground the fuj*itive' had. disappeared from view, and' it was. impossible to tell which wayhe had .gone. However, the /whereabouts of the , escapee, had. now been located; and' Sergeant 'Bowdeh' at .once dispatched messages all around that' the mim was in the vicinity, and, of course, the .whole' of-'the constables who were out searching' were doubly on the qui vive. - The denouement came about 2 o'clock this afternoon. While Constables Barry and O'Sullivan were' standing .on' the verandah of the store at Awahuri they saw Powelka walking past. Constable O'Sullivan at once mounted a bicycle and got ■ ahead 'of Powelka, while Constable Barry simultaneously closed up .in the rear.. Realising that he was in the toils, Powelka made no resistance whatever, . and _ the constables proceeded to handcuff-him". - Powelka, standing-calmly, remarked: "Ohj you needn't put. on the handcuffs;. I will .come quietly," but, warned by previous experiences, the officers of the law judged it:best to be on the safe side, and., acted accordingly. Word was then sent through to Palmer-: ston, and a motor-car was sent out to meet the trio and bring them into town. The prisoner - is now safely, lodged in gaol again, and, needless to say, will not be given any, more chances. When captured, Powelka was wearing an overcoat, and was carrying a swag and billy. No, trace has yet been found of th» bicycle belonging !to. Mr. Frank Kendall which Powelka got away on. .