CAPTURE OF PLUMMER.

Evening Star, Issue 2960, 14 August 1872, Page 2

CAPTURE OF PLUMMER.

Frederick Plummer was unable to profit by his Auckland experiences As was the case there, whenever he affected an escape, he was sure to take to acts of petty pilfering which soon put the police on the proper track, aud led to his capture. He adopted a similar course here with the same resu t. The supposition that Plummer got into one of the pavilions at the cricket ground, and stoic a suit of clothes and other property from it, turns out to have been correct; but that be went into the bush at the Glen, “rigged” himself out there, and st.yed there any time was incorrect. While that bush was being carefully surrouvuled, he was leisurely pursuing his way through the heart of the City ; aud while the police and warders were searching almost every nook and corner in Oaversham, he was living at his ease in a hotel in town, going out occasionally at night to do a little shoplifting “to keep his hand in.” These facts confirmed by himself since his arrest, were known two or three days ago in some quarters ; but the information given was not clear enough to lead to Plummer’s detection. It was, however, sufficient to establish a conviction in the minds of those to whom the information was imparted that he was prowling about Dunedin. A series of till robberies had been going on principally about the Water of Leith ; aud from the manner in which they were effected, and particularly from a circumstance connected with one of them, Plummer was associated with them. But before proceeding to particularise them, we may mention that Plummer appears to have first shown himself in town on Friday evening, when he found his way to White’s Queen’s Hotel in Albany street, where he inquired for sleeping accommodation, but did not obtain it. While there he appears to have read the Evening Star which contained an account of his escape, and made some observations upon it. The next day he took up his quarters at the Rainbow Hotel in Geoige street, where he has lodged up to the time of his arrest, which occurred at half-past nine o’clock last night. His first object was to “raise the wind,” so as to procure necessary disguises ; and to this end till-robbing commended itself to him. He first visited tie »liop of Mi- M'Dorgall, Great King street north ; aud waiting till his opportunity occurred, removed the till with its contents. This he did while Mrs M'Dougall was sitting in a room behind the shop, talking to some one, who fancied she beard a person entering the shop. Mrs MtDougall went into the shop, and saw no one, but found the till aud its contents gone. On the floor was a piece of cloth, which, on being handed over to the police, was identified as a part of the material taken from the pavilion at the cricket ground. It was this little circumstance that gave rise to the belief that it was Plummer who had committed the robbery. What he did was to cover his boots with the cloth, and so deaden sound, that he was able to enter the bar of Wain’s Royal Hotel on Monday evening and remove a till containing about L 3 without his approach being heard by Mrs Wain, who was sitting in the room adjoining the bar, with the door ajar. In this instance he was considerate enough to place the till, after removing the money, under a water-butt, to keep dry some papers be left in it—which condescension on his part is said to have elicited the observation from Mr Wain that he fplt it a pleasure to be robbed by so considerate a thief. From the Prince Alfred Hotel, a little higher up, 30s was recovered from the bar ; and a similar attempt at the St. Vincent Hotel was only frustrated by the opportune arrival in the bar of a little girl. Other till robberies wore reported to the police. Having got a supply of the “ ready,” Plummer seems to have laid in his stock. He purchased other clothes, got a supply of tobacco from a tobacconist in Princes street, bought books to while away his time, and even gathered a collection of photographs of eminent royal personages ami operatic celebrities, not forgetting Bismarck. Ho took a cottage oil' Forth place, belonging to Mr P. Thomson, at a rental of L2 a month, and was to have taken possession next Monday. While at the Rainbow he is said to have been particularly anxious in his enquiries as to what the papers had to say about him, “ well, have they caught Plummer yet,” he would ask the landlord. His capture was the result of a pure accident; and we doubt very much if it would have happened had it not been for his conduct after he was “ spotted.” Detective Farrell, in company with constable Bain, Town^Belt ranger, was proceeding down George street, aud noticed right beneath the lainj) post close to the Royal George stables, a respectably dressed, low sized, clean sbaved man, standing on the edge of the pavement, evidently watching the movements of the people in the bar of the Sussex Hotel on the other side of the steeot. Strange to say, at the moment of observing this man they were talking of Plummer. They passed on a little, and possibly would not have troubled themselves about him had not Plummer, finding himself observed, crossed over towards MorreTs bakery. Then it was that Farrell observed to his companion that be thought the man was Plummer, whereat Bain said “No, but he was good for the till robberies.” Farrell followed, and Plummer before ho was aware of his approach, found himself held by one of his wrists and from behind. Farrell told him he wanted him to go over to the Rainbow Hotel, but Plummer demurred. After a slight resistance, he was taken in there and searched by Bain. Ho stoutly denied being | the mau wanted, but when Farrell, on the

other garments being removed, saw the coarse under flannel he wore to be, by its make, that of a prisoner, he felt sure he had the right individual. Plummer said his name was F. G. Haltou; in proof of Ms assertion producing a document, purporting to be a receipt by Mr Thomson for rent of the cotta,:e he had taken ; and threatened the detective with all sorts of actions for detaining a person of his respectability. But Farrell was not to be done ; and told him that he would have him taken to Mr Caldwell even if he had met him one hundred miles up-couatry. Whereupon Plummer said, “ Where are you taking me to?” “ Staight to Her Majesty’s gaol.” answered Farrell, and forthwith took him there. The officer says the celerity with which Plummer mounted the prison steps was astonishing ; aud once inside the prison walls, he took things very quietly. Of course he was the man : and was quickly in a cell again. He was anything but communicative after he was received, and the only observation he made was to Farrell, who took him into his cll It was to the effect that he only knew the detective from description, but he should have known him anywhere ; and Farrell was polite enough to return the compliment. Most of the clothing Plummer wore when arrested was new. On him were found half-a-sove-reign, and LI 7s lid in silver and coppers; a fur-covered cigar case, six portmonnaies, a looking-glass, knife, match-box, a meerschaum pipe (stolen from the St. Vincent Hotel), a mouthpiece, and last night’s edition of the Evening Star, The portmonnaies have been identified by Mr E. Nathan, Princes street, as his property. He did not miss them until this morning, but Plummer must have stolen them a little after dusk last evening, when the shop was left for afew moments. This morning I. N. Watt, Esq., 8.M., attended at the Gaol, to hear evidence on an information preferred by the Gaoler against Plummer for escaping from legal custody. The witnesses in the case being in the country, he was remanded for a week.