PICNIC TRAGEDY.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1924, Page 3

PICNIC TRAGEDY.

4.UBTIIALIAN ANU N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION. BATSON SIGHTED. DETAILS OK CHASE(Received this day at 11 ■-■'> a.m.) SYDNEY. Kebruary l->. Batson is reported to have been sighted four miles from Walwa on the Victorian side of the river, making along a mountain ridge in very rough country. A certain amount of sympathy is tolt for the fugitive in many quarters ns it is staled that he had been the victim of petty persecution with the object of annoying him. \Vlien sighted near Walwa he was unarmed. The police rushed to the scene, but so far without result. Another report states that Batson visited a hut near Jingellie and stayul the night. Searchers found the bed disarranged and a target set up outside, riddled with bullets; also a heap of empty cartridge eases. The police surrounded the hut, hut no one was allowed to enter or leave, as it is strong)v suspected that Batson is being harboured and fetl by .someone in the district, , The police, while believing the lugitivc committed suicide,- placed a wire net across the .Murray in the hope ol recovering the hotly, hut the suicide theory has now been discounted, riie „ district, which is ordinarily very quiet. \amiv galvanised into life and swarming with khaki clad armed men and poTice, besides many journalists from Sydney and Melbourne. .Many innocent people have been hailed up in the Im?lief that they were the wanted man, and in one case a local resident was covered by five rifles and i.i. the point of being shot, when the mistake was discovered.