An Exciting Adventure

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 94, 28 January 1893, Page 2

An Exciting Adventure

On Thursday last Constable Tuohy went to Pemberton for the purpose of arresting a man named Samuel McSweeney, alias McSaveney. It is alleged that accused had got hold of two blank forms from a Mr Wood's cheque book, and wrote a letter in the name of Mr M. Belski, of Pembdrton, asking the Bank at Marton to forward the amount of the cheque to JBelski, at Pemberton. On receipt of the letter, Belski could not understand the matter, and at once rode over to Marton to interview Mr Woods when the forgery was discovered, as both Belski and Woods recognized MeSweeney's hand writing. Another cheque is also missing from Mr Woods' book, but if in circulation for what amount is unknown. A warrant was then issued for McSweeney's arrest. Constable Tuohy after a great deal of trouble succeeded in finding his man at Pemberton, asleep in his tent. The accused 6aid he would give no trouble and would come into town quietly. All went well until two or three miles the other side of Birmingham when the Constable and his prisoner were overtaken by a young man on horseback the accused's horse turned restive and cantered away closely followed by Mr Tuohy, It turns out that MeSweeney was mounted on a thoroughbred, own brother to a former Christchurch Steeplechase winner, and the further the animal went, the better it seemed to like it. The pace continued to increase, through Birmingham the chase tore, and gradually the law's representative was left in the lurch, as the horse Mr Tuohy was mounted on, had done some long journeying on the two previous days. He still however managed to keep his man in sight until the turn made at the Cheltenham Cross road to Cinder Hill was reached when accused was about 300 yards ahead. Mr R. Logan, of Feilding, here joined in, and when the accused found he was being slowly overhauled, he, like his horse, entered into the spirit of the thing, and urged the animal on. Mr Tuohy's horse being now dead beat, he was fortunate in falling in with Mr Jacob, of Kiwitea, when an exchange of mounts was effected. Ultimately the accused was found in a paddock opposite Mr Fitzherbert's farm at Cinder Hill, sitting on a log, his horse having thrown a shoe. The bracelets were at once adjusted, lest any further mishap should occur, and the journey into Feilding was safely accomplished. During the chase large flocks of sheep, mobs of cattle, and timber carts were constantly met, with the usual ttccouipauitnent of clouds of dust. Constable Tuohy certainly deserves great credit for the manner in which he stuck to his duty, under such untoward circumstances, he being heavily handicapped by having to ride a knocked- up horse some 11 or 12 miles before meeting with the chance of a remount-