THE PICNIC TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1924, Page 3

THE PICNIC TRAGEDY

At SV-oU-f." ' - o N / CAlll.t: ASSOCIA HON". • ' ’ I’TI'R ED. r- i-AML-MIED STATE. SYDNEY, Feh. Id. Rat-mi has t,captured. He was taken on the Victorian side of she river. lie was barefooted. birth l - —, ami in a famished state. Early in the morning. Rat-on appi'ttred in it cow-hoi! some distance from Mr Drummond's resilience- where two \ out Ill'll I i'.i'ii na in lances ot his. William I lap- and Percy Kmmersou, were milking, lie said : "Good day. Bill: For (tod's sake give me a drink f mill:!" They gave him a cun. and he drank this. When he was bending to till the cup again, the youths grabbed him. lie pleaded to be allowed to go. as lie bad done them no harm. 11 ai c replied : " It's all right lamie. You would have been caught anyhow in the long run I Batson said: "Yes, I know that. !i was onlv a matter ot time. I am just about settled now." The youths ('(inducted him to the homestead. He protested against being taken into the presence ot the women, because be was shiftless. Batson was subsequently handed over to the police. AN ABJECT SIGHT. SYDNEY. Feh. It. According to another version, when grabbed. Bat-on Stroke away, hut. hr was too exhausted to make much use of bis freedom and was -non recaptured. He asked his captors to procure him a shirt hclore he was taken into the presence of women, saying: “1 got some decency loit! ' He was given a shirt. Mi's Drummond supplied the tngitive who Was a figure ol abject misery with milk and sandwichc-. .Meantime, Young Drummond rode for tht- police. Bid son staled that sis of the searcher- passed within 20 feet of him on the previous night. Tim scene of the capture is one and a half miles from Jingellic. After lie was allowed a wash and a re-t. Batson was taken by the \ i<‘torian police in a motor ear. with a strong c-morl. to AUmry. and handed over to the South Wale- authorities. CABLE NEWS DELAYED. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.t SYDNEY, Feh. Rd. The details of the Batson capture. Adelaide cricket and other southern news-cables are delayed through, a thunderstorm itti'eriering with tin? land lines.