TIMARU MURDER.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1920, Page 4

TIMARU MURDER.

AN A RllfliST MADE. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 1. Reginald Matthews, an escaped prisoner, known to be at large armed, was seen in th e city this morning, aiid a very hot chase was made by the police in the vicinity of George Street. The chase, ended, in failure. Matthew’s slipped away, and ho I s still at large. The “Stair” states the police are very keen on tlrei search ‘.for Matthews, and are investigating the possibility of his connection with the Timarii tragedy. LATER. Matthews was recaptured on the Lyttelton wharf this evening, after a sV'Ukntional shooting affray with the police. Matthews was sentenced on August 25th., 1919, to nine months imprisonment. on a charge of indecent exposure but- be escaped from Lyttelton gaol on September 12th., 1919. Nothing was seen or heard of him till a fortnight ago. The general belief in police circles was that lie had gome down |in the Tain.qi. However, two weeks ago, he was noticed in the public gardens, and a gardener who was a witness against him in the Court proceedings, went to apprehend him. Matthews, it is alleged, presented a revolver at him, and made good his escape. A SENSATIONAL ARREST. SHOOTINGS AT LYTTELTON. CHRISTCHURCH, November 1. The arrest of Matthews at Lyttelton was a most sensational affair. At 6.45 p.m. a party of. police boarded the Maori and were inspecting som e luggage in the cabin at the top of the Maori’s steerage companion-way when Matthews entered. Detective Bickerdik,. took a step towards him, but Matthews dropped his hand' to his hip pocket, and ran out, with police in pursuit. After a lively chase along various alleyways, the fugitive’raced down the steerage gangway to the wharf brandishing a revolver. He doubled round! some twenty trucks and then set off between a double row of trucks. Constable Templeton dived at him, and in a scuffle a shot was fired, Templeton receiving a bullet in the knee: He clung to Matthews, and with the assistance of Constable Heslop, held him till reinforcements arrived arid lie was secured and handcuffed. ,::i : ■ "7 Besides the shot fired by Matthews at Templeton, both Matthews and Detective Bickerdike fired twice on the deck of the Maori, while Senior Sergeant Jackson, who caught a glimpse o,f the fujgitive also todk aim, but His revolver missed fire. Constable Templeton is now in the ' hospital. His wound is not serious, the bullet missing the knee cap. It is stated that Matthews, since his escape from ’ Lyttelton gaol, has been following his calling of seaman. He signed off the Wa.ipori.on October stli. He had been going under the name of Reginald Irwin, which is said to be the name under which he secured his passage in the Maori. A man who is almost the double of Matthews was apprehended at Lyttelton yesterday morning, but was able to establish his identity and was released. Tile escaped prisoner Matthews was brought to Christchurch to-night and formally charged that on October 27th., 1920 at Timaru, he did murder one, Clarence Edward Wagstaff.