THE CAPTURE OF POWELKA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 794, 18 April 1910, Page 6

THE CAPTURE OF POWELKA.

The most satisfactory features 'of the recapture of/the man Powelka are the fact that it was the police who succeeded in the task, and the further circumstance that there was no resort to firearms. The state of mind into which many people , had been thrown by the happenings in and around Palmerston made it very possible that even, after the bulk of the population had cooled down there was still risk of some of the more impetuous or more nervous "shooting at sight" had they happened to come across the runaway. It was fortunate, therefore, that it was the police who tracked Powelka to his hiding-plaoe, and equally fortunate that the - officer who appears to have first seen Powelka'in his place of concealment should - have displayed' such coolness and judgment. We have no doubt at all that Powelka has been Warned for things of which he is quite innocent; indeed, we are told to-day that the police are taking proceedings against some foolish practical joker wno is alleged to have passed himself off as the fugitive, but the precautions taken by the police to minimise the risk of a serious encounter were, in the circumstances, most praiseworthy. The police have been blamed in some quarters for failing to have effected the capture sooner. This blame, so far as we are aware, is not merited. Powelka's very daring, apart from his quite remarkable activity, assisted him for a time, though in the end it inevitably ,lcd to his discovery and recapture. Citizens geneaally cannot fail to experience satisfaction at the manner in which the series of sensational and tragic incidents associated with the escape of Powelka has been brought to a close.