A DESPERATE MAN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 April 1910, Page 2

A DESPERATE MAN.

POWKLK A AT HAY. SHOOTS A I'OLICKMAX AT PALM kkstox, AXI) AGAIN RSCAPFS. Tin' chase i:ifter .luseph Powelka has lnul ii terrible denouement. Serjeant I\la<j;iii r<.;, while trying to arrest Powelka. was shot by him, in i\ Ferguson street garden, and now lies desperately wounded the hospital. On Saturday morning Powelka appeared in the residence of his mother-in-law at Ash hurst. and disappeared upon Iter screaming out. On Saturday night a. residence, at tin; corner of Alexandra anil College .streets was entered and food and elolhing taken. A little later a house in Scaudia street was burned down. About •")..'{() the police received a message that a man had been sleeping under a haystack in Vogel street. Constables Pussel and Hattie immediately went out to investigate an<l found that a hole, bad been cut into the stack, and tJiero was evidence that a man hall been lying there. Word then came in of someone.believed to be Powelka being .seen -it I'angitikei Line, along Boniidaorv I'oad, to Air M'Gills' flour mill, and by the cemetery. At .about 7.H0 p.m., Air Hampton ran over to the police to say that a man had jumped over bis gate and gone behind his house. Sergt. Al'Guire took Detective Qiiarterniain, Detective Siddells. Constable Dunn and "Wilson ,and .set out. Posting the others in Ferguson street, the Sergeant, Detective Qiiarterniain and Air Hampton entered tlie grounds, the Serjeant going roiriul one way and the other two the other, to go round the housi*. The Sergeant was heard to "all out and the others, running up, found him grappling with a man, who fired. The injured man fell with a groan and Detective Qiiarterniain fire dtwo shots in quick succession at the flash of (be deadly revolver, but the man apparently escaped in the darkness of the grounds. Attention was tl 10,11 directed to M'G'uire. who lav groaning on the lawn. Dr. "Wilson was sent for and was speedily on the .scene and ordered the ambulance, and the sufferer was conveyed to (he hospital. sruporxDixc the block. The police speedily had the block surrounded by pickets of constables, "ivilians and volunteers, who challenged all wayfarers. They were " armed with rifles, revolvers' and fowling-pieces and were prepared to shoot the man if lie ran or resist"d. Parties were rent to guard the ''"ih'.lierbert bridge and other likely exist from the town. Reiiitinels na trolled, 'between each ,M 'ckct. H"avy rain soon commenced "to fall, which eommo'lr.d the watchers and soon knocked at those without, ove'""oats, but the latter stuck* to it all 'li'/ht, snnner he.iim kent goi "<? for th"m at Air Devine's TCmpi'-e Hotel. The women in this .neiirhVitirhnnd wore, terror .stricken, and manv fainted. The shots were hoard as fa' 1 .away as Ada street,. The susnect never attempted to -''iter the hous'\ and spoke no word either to Air Hamilton or during the struggle with the Serjeant. SKRGT. M'GriPK'S COXDITIOX. Sergeant Al'Guire was operated on at 11 p.m., at the hospital bv Dr Martin, and proved to be -desperately injured. The bullet had apparently penetrated the stomach and bowels and. the Sergeant is in a critical condition. .Sergeant AFGnire had no revolver, amtl was urged bv one of the young constables with him (Constable Dunn) not to go into the grounds, but to let the latter take his place. The Sergeant, however, said lie was not afraid and ordered the constable to remain where posted outside. ITe is aged 30. Mrs APGuiro was Apprised of tin* shooting of her husband, anid left Wellington bv motor car at midnight to reach his side at the earliest possible moment. PERAL\XEXT ATCTTLLTCRY COATTXG. The Permanent, Artillery are to ari'iva from Wellington to-day to assist in tlioron<rhly souring the eounti'" for Powulk.n s' 1 wld he have, escaprd before tl"> cordon "'n.s 'h-awn rornr? Feriuson, Ada, Olmrch and Princess streets blocks.