WHERE IS POWELKA?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 787, 9 April 1910, Page 5

WHERE IS POWELKA?

THE PURSUIT. CHASED BY A CONSTABLE. TWO SHOTS FIRED. UNEASINESS AMONG THE SETTLERS FUGITIVE'S HORSE CAPTURED. (from Our Specio\ OorressondenU Palmerston North, April 8. All sorts of rumours in regard to Powelka have been floating around the town to-day. It was confidently expected that the man would be captured .at,Pahiatua this morning, and there is a. feeling' that > he : may still make his way back to Palmerston. Business people do not feel at all safoj as they are afraid, even if Powelka is not about, that someone else may ; desire to emulate his example. Several business firms have, arranged to put on a special.nightwatchman, and they have also requested the Borough Council to keep the gas lamps in the Square and the adjacent streets alight all night, instead of extinguishing them at eleven o'clock. '. - ■ ~' : "'•-'•". ■' The police are still away from town, and • the only additional information this morning is a telephone ■ message that the fugitive had got clear of the bush,where he took shelter last night. : . The horse ridden by Powelka, whioh was recovered when he took to the scrub, has been•identified as one stolen from': Palmerston ; North on Tuesday night. Up to seven o'clock the Palmerston police had received, no word from Pahiatua regarding.Powelka.

AN EXCITING INCIDENT.

RACE FOR THE BUSH- "' CONSTABLE FIRES TWICE: v (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) i !):':■■'■ Pahiatua, April 8. • A strong patrol of, police watched all the .roads last night in search' of Powelka, and concentrated at Makonako this morning- The bush in which Powelka sought hiding, was searched at daybreak, • but without the desired result.,. It was reported "that, the escapee was seen.crossing,the Mangahao River. /Every road and/bridge is being watched, and the' force has been . augmented. .. Farmers in "the .vicinity. are extremely , anxious. •'•. .' _ - /When'he was seen last evening; near the -Pahiatua railway station,, Powelka had just been to the store to buy fuse, but could, obtain none, and rode_ away. •When. .crossing 'the. railway lino he was seen by Constable King, of Palmerston,. who was on patrol. King states that Powelka,. hearing the ' sound ,of hoofs, turned round. Although it was growing dusk, King immediately recognised him. He was wearing a green hat,, green overcoat, and new leggings —lost from' one of the Palmerston fires. '■ Powelka's horse was a speedy animal, and gained on ..King, „ butj.it ~_ became footsore, as it."wanted':two'.:.shoes, and went 'sUghtly ,V.-'. ■' -■ King then decreased''the distance bePowelka,' seeing it .was .hopeless, to .continue. 'ti>. ride,': took '.ad-, vantage/of- the./doyer, of a bend in road to -dismount, abandon the. horse, and-clear up;.the'hill in the. direction of Matthews' Bush. ■ .... : •'■ Coming up, King/saw Powelka, revolver in; hand, : running towards the bush. ■'-.■ ■■ ..;:■./.: .. ~'■_:. '.'.■ ■'■ ..,, ; The constable, fired twice, but .failed to hit Powelka, who ran into the bush and-wasilost in'the darkness.' Then assistance was. summoned, the I bush surrounded, and searched at daybreak without avail. . ' '~.•■■'■■'•■

About ; forty constables are engaged in the search at present, and moTe.are" hourly expected.* . ' ,'; ": tt is . probable the Tarar'ua Ranges will be the scene of patrol to-day. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. POWELKA ABANDONS HIS MOUNT. (By Teloinrapn.—Special CorrespondsDt.l Pahiatua, April 8. When it became known that Powelka was within a few miles, of the town last night and' had been seen crossing the range.by a resident of the town who was in Palmerston .early yesterday morning the police. from that district were immediately ',informed, of the man's whereabouts,. and two of the force were sent out to search for .him, with' the result that hie was Been, by them close to the local.' railway station.

Before being noticed he bad i coma from tho direction of Konini, and, had called at a store in • Scarborough, and wanted to purchase some, fuse, which, they informed him was not kept on the premises. He then mounted hja horse, and ■ was on. bis way back- to Palmerston when he ;wa-s seen, by the.police from Palmerstoh, who were on - the roadj and he : was pursued by them. He galloped along : at a rapid pace, but, finding that- his horse was losing ground through dropping a shoe, he got ' off " and took.. to the. bush. The police then pursued, but, as it was getting dark, were unable to locate him.

A few shots were fired without any result, and in the meantime the police from Palmorston were- communicated with, and a further detachment were sent over 'to ' assist in the search, as well as some six or seven from Masterton, who arrived here by motor-car at 3 a.m. ,

On© or two amusing incidents occurred during their, trip. They wore informed as to what clothes the fugitive was wearing, and if they came across anyone (which they did) ho was bailed up by the men in blue and asked questions, and lot go again. The local police here were also reinforced with several assistant police, and dispatched to the scene where the fugitive was last seen. The horse that Powclka was riding was caught by one of the polico officials, after the man had gone into the bush to make his escape, and brought into town. During tho evening the placo was looked after by a few civilians who woro on "sentry go." . The town is still unsettled as regard* business, and moro reinforcements are expected to be on tho alert to-night. Later. Up to tho present tirao (7. p.m.) no further trace has beon seen or anything heard of. the escaped prisoner, and some of the local police arc recuperating themselves so to be ready for to-night's search. jThe settlers in the Mnngahao and Bailance districts are much disturbed, and arc passing sleepless nights. . • It is thought Powelka is making hack [to Polmerston, • :

EMERCINC FROM THE BUSH

WAS IT THE FUGITIVE? (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Pahiatua, April 8. There is nothing further to Kiport in reference to Powelka. A man of his. stature was seen shortly after seven to-night emerging from a patch of bush at the far end of the bridge over tho Mangatainoka River on the road to tho railway station, and cross to tho other side and disappear in the darkness. It is generally believed Powelka is still lurking in the neighbourhood of Pahiatua, and all the roads are being closely watched to-night by the police, who are spread throughout tho district.

THE LATEST.

HOUSE BURNED AT HOKOWHITU. IS POWELKA BACK AT PALMERSTON? . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.l Palmerston North, April 8. There is no definite news as to Powelka. He is understood to be coming home, and there is a statement that he has already returned from his visit to Pahiatua. The firebell rang out just before 11 p.m. and the fire proved to be at Mr. Snow's late residence, Hokowhitn, recently purchased by Mr. Hildus Bergorson, but which was unoccupied. It iras a commodious residence, and was burned to the ground . A swagger was said to have, been seen there this afternoon. It 1b possible to fdrd the Mauawatu River near Mr. Snow's house, 'and a man returning from the Pahiatua Hills could cross there to'avoid the bridges., ; A largo force of police are out in the town and ' the ranges. • The fact that a man supposed to be Powelka sought to purchase fuse at Pahiatua. yesterday is considered significant, , seeing, it is alleged, detonators, etc., were taken from a Palmerston store on the night of the fire. . News, that the Government has offered £50 reward for information which will lead to Powelka's apprehension has been received with satisfaction here tonight. ,i . ———-'./ REWARD OF £50 OFFERED. STATEMENT BY DR. FINDLAY. To a Dominion reporter tho Hon. Dr. Findlay ' (Minister for Justice), stated that the Government had decided to offer a reward of £50 to anyone who is able to furnish information which will lead to the arrest of Powelka. In connection with the offer, Dr. Findlay went' on to say that the case was undoubtedly one in regard to which the efforts' of the police should be supplemerited in the fullest possible way by the activities of the settlers. He believed that the offer which .the Government had determined to make would enlist the more active assistance of a number of the sturdy Bottlers of the district in ; which the.fugitive was now hiding. Dr. Findlay added that he was satisfied from the reports which' had come to hand that Powelka was, in: - Hib bush near Pahiatua. It was clear also that he was recently, in the vicinity of the Palmerston , North racecourse.: .'