HOW THE NATIONAL BANK ROBBER, WAS' CAPTURED.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1090, 20 April 1883, Page 3

HOW THE NATIONAL BANK ROBBER, WAS' CAPTURED.

The Nelson Mail gives the following de ails of Hodgson's capture : Ihe police had long known that he was concealed in the bush somewhere in the neighbourhood of Wadgamba ; hut although more than one attempt had been made to aireat him he had always contrived to keen out of their reach. Since then there was reason to believe that he was either in the vicinity of the Croixelles or the Peloms Sound, and Inspector Atcheson having secured the services of Mr Ward (lately in charge of Te Whiti and Tohu) who is an experienced bushtnan, he swore him in as a special constable, and in company with Constable Roscoe he left for the Croixelles on Friday evening under the pretence of going to search foi copper. The rest of the story will best be told in ill r Ward’s own words, and therefore. W&' take t.ie following from his report ,td the Inspector of Police : Having the warrant for the arrest of Francis James Hodgson, as well as his photograph, I proceeded on board of a cutter which was bound for the C-oix-elles as a prospector, with Constable Roscoe, A.C., as my mate. I informed the captain of the cutter that 1 should require the services of his vessel, as well as his own and mate’s for a week to show me various points of interest in the PeLrous Sound. At 9p. m. on the 6th ult. we left Port Nelson, and arrived at M’Laren Bay, Croixelles Sound, at twelve midnight same evening. At daylight on the 7th we ci cased over the range to Stuart Bay, Peiorous Soiind. After, a pretended search for minerals I at once saw that no person had been there for some m nths previous, and my companion and myself then proceeded to Gams Bay, distance some live miles from where we then were ; the tide being in it made it rough and slow travelling. We reached Mr Gam’s homestead at four o’clock, and after certain inquiries by myself and Roscoe ns to the objection, etc., this lady would have to our psospecting the ranges on her p operty, I incidentally mentioned to her that a nephew of mine was somewhere in this locality, and I Would like much to hear from him. She knew of no young man being in this part of the world “ except a man whom she had heard was working now f.r a Mr Stewart, in Filzroy Bay, and she only knew him by the fact of his calling at her house some thiee or four weeks back.” Here was a clue at once. “ Would Mrs Gams know this young man if she were to see him again.” “Yes, she would. Strangers were not very often in or near the Sound ; certainly she would know him.” I then showed her Hodgson’s photo., and she recognised it at once at being “ that of the young man who had called there for work and that she believed he was now at Stewart’s, Fitzroy Bay.” So the next thing to do was to get to Fitzroy Bay. It was nearly twelve miles by land, and it was now almost dark However, with the assistance of my companion! we cleaned out and caulked up with rags an old boat that Mrs Gams told us we were welcome to, but that she would rather not let ua go into it as it would surely drown us all. But there was no other, and at dusk we proceeded on our perilous voyage for Stewart’s house, My idea was was to get across Fitzroy Bay to Stewart’s side and wait for daylight; but the night was tempestuous and our bark so frail (one man continually bailing her) that it would be risking all our lives to venture across in her in such a night, so we hanled her ashore ami camped for the night. Next morning iSlhj at 4.30 o’clock we crossed over to Stewart’s side of the bay. and rowed up to within half a nii'e of the house. The captain and mate of the cutter were much surprised at my arrangements, but I informed them it was of the utmost importance that I personally got speech of my nephew, who would he off did he know that 1 wished to see him, so one of them 1 sent to a paddock at the rear of the house to stop any person he saw coming from or to the house, the other I sent ito the woolshed to see if any person was there sleeping, telling them both to whistle.loudly if either of them saw any person. land Constable Roscoe proceeded to Hie house, myself to the front door to gain admission, and Constable Roscoe to the back door to the stop egress from the heidse. The dogs.all round the building were now mouthing very soundly. On my.knocking at the door and asking for Me Stewart, his lady came to the door in a great fright. On my declaring myself to her to quiet the agitation, as I could obtain nothing from her. she informed me that there were two gentlemen staying in the house, a Mr Brown and Mr Vale. Mr Brown was soon on the scene, and I knew he was not who I wanted. Then, “Where was Mr Vale?’’ “Upstairs asleep.” So I at once proceeded upstairs and entered Mr Vale’s room. He was asleep, but a glance showed me he was the man I wanted 1 asked him his name. “ Frederick Vale.” “ How long have you thrown off your own name, Hodgson,” I asked him. “ Hodgson,” “Hodgson; my name is Yale, and I don’t belong to Nelson.” This was enough. I then arrested him as Francis James Hodgson. He still persisted that his name was Vale, but I ordered him out of bed to dress himself, and Constable Roscoe now came upstairs, and on seeing him at once recognised the prisoner, who now acknowledged he was Hodgson, and said “it was a good job he was arrested.” Mr Ward speaks highly of the assistance received by him from the captain and mate of the cutter Wave, and describes the astonishment on learning the object of their trip, and that the prospecting was now over.