LATER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 789, 12 April 1910, Page 6

LATER.

STILL UNCAPTURED.

AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT. ONE , CIVILIAN SHOOTS ANOTHER. (By Teleeraon.—Press Araoclatlon.l Palmerston North, April 1L Powelka is still uncaptured, though ho is said to have been ' seen . in various places, to which motor-cars with detachments of police and civilians, motorbicycles, and horsemen have rxtshed, buteach siege has failed. Two men are said to have been stuck up,' but it is almost impossible to. get definite information from the police. To-night Michael Quirke, brother of Detective Quirke, was shot by a fellow searcher in Ruahino Street. The shooter is understood to be Mr. Overton, a hotelwho took Quirke for Powelka. HOW THE MISHAP HAPPENED. , ' '. (■ ■■' . . ■ . A CITIZEN BAILED UP.' / • ' ■ ■ ■ Palmerston North, April 11. About 7.30 o'clock to-night a number of shots were fired ■ by someone .at Terrace End, and a report was brought to the police that a man had been shot. A- party was immediately dispatched to Terrace Street- to verify the statement, and bring in the man. if it proved true. • . •■' ■The report turned out to be without foundation, but a most unfortunate accident occurred . just as the • motor-car containing the polico party. pulled up at the scene,-Mr. M. Quirke,-tobacconist, of Pahiatua, who is a brother of Detective Quirke, being accidentally shot by a civilian, his skull being split open along the top. The unfortunate man was immediately conveyed to the hospitalin a very critical condition. A little bit earlier in the evening Mr. Laybourne, of Snow and Co., land agents, was coming out of his place at the most eastern end of Ferguson Street, 'when he was bailed up by a man, who announced that he was' Powelka. He flourished a revolver at Hγ. Xaybourne, arid cautioned him to keep his mouth shut. There is a tremendous crowd in front of the police station, which is rather inconveniencing the police. After the accident, Sergeant Cruickshank cautioned the crowd, and' advised them to go to their homes before more trouble arose.

It is said that a number of shots were fired into the house of a resident named Shields at Terrace.End, but this needs verification. FACE TO FACE WITH POWELKA. A REVOLVER IN EACH HAND. SEAECHES A TBAP FOE .FOOD. (By Telesraph.—Special Correspondent.) Palmerston North, April 11. Mr. Alfred Richards, a Kelvin Grove resident, was stuck up by Powelka this evening, about 7 'o'clock,*■ in .Terrace Street, not a great distance from whero, Mr. Laybourne was bailed up. ' Mr:'Eichards was driving into town, and when he got to the railway crossing he was accosted by a man holding a revolver in each hand, a large one and a small one. Mr. Bichards, thinking discretion the best part '■ of valour, pulled up. The man,\ who proved to be Powelka, got up into the trap and asked if there was any "tucker" in the vehicle. '* Mr. Eichards replied, "No," and Powelka said, "I will look. for..myself," and commenced to turn over the parcels in the trap. "When getting into the vehicle he dropped the small revolver into his pocket, and, covering Mr. Bichards with the other, grasped Him by the throat. In -the excitement Mr. Eichards dropped one of the reins, but luckily recovered it before his horse got any way on. ...Powelka satisfied himself that there was no food in the trap, and jumped out. Mr. Eichards whipped up his horse, and put a good, distance between himself and the fugitive. , | The Escapee Described. • Hβ describes Powelka as looking very dishevelled. His face was dirty, and he had a scar on the forehead, with blood marks. He has a small moustache, and whiskers of . a few days' growth. Mr. Eiohards asserts that the man has a very hunted look, with every appearance of going out of his mind. He also had a distinct smell of drink on him. , As soon as he' got far enough away, Mr! Eichards called to some people he could see a bit. further on, and told them that Powelka was a little further along the Btreet. It appears that the people he saw were endeavouring to right a motor-car which had got off the road and had upset

Was It Powelka? Some time later it was reported to the police that Powelka was having supper in the Rising Sun Cafe, adjoining the Council Chambers, in the Square. The police rushed off to the cafe, but the man, if it was Powelka, had disappeared. .It appears that the affair which resulted in the lamentable shooting of Miohael Quirke was not altogether an accident. It seems that the shot was fired by Mr. W. JL Overton, proprietor of the Princess Hotel, at Terrace End. He saw Quirke coming along in the dark, and challenged him, thinking-he was Powelka. Quirke evidently thonght the same thing of Overfcon, and drew on him with a revolver. It appeared to be a case of who could get in quickest; and Overton, who had a shot gun in his hands, proved that he , was both quick and accurate. Naturally Mr. Overton is very greatly upaet over the accident, which it is said may result fatally. Another lot of police arrived here tonight, and have been drafted to. various localities. News from Ashhurst shows that the people of that township are in a very excited state. It appears that Powelka has threatened to blow up llr. P. Hanlon's housed and that apparently is why he was anxious to obtain sonie'fuse. Mrs. Powelka, who is in a delicate state of health, is in a very nervous condition, whilst her mother is also much upset. The Ashhurst section of the Mounted Jliflee is noting &s a night .patrol.