DARING BANDIT CAUGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1932, Page 3

DARING BANDIT CAUGHT

AMAZING SERIES OF EXPLOITS

OUTRAGES AND ESCAPES

A midnight motor car chase brought to book a picturesque and original bandit, Heinrich Kasprick. For weeks he had terrorised, single-handed, the district known as the Spreewald, which the River Spree traverses by. a. hundred channels. Liberated from a long term of penal servitude, Kaspric-k returned to his native village, Bhyleguhre. For some time he kept himself by poaching, hut during one of his . nocturnal prowls he was challenged by a gamekeeper, whom he shot and wounded. Kasprick escaped, lmt lie had been recognised, and the police were once more ori his track.

The gendarmerie learned that Kasprick was again at home, and they surrounded his house in considerable force. Several of the men entered. Kasprick ran up into the garret, climbed through a, skylight on to the roof, and jumped to the ground over the heads of ,t]ie astonished gendarmes beneath. As lie dashed through the garden they, fired a volley after him, but it was dark and lie escaped again.

Song In a Dance Hall

On December 25 came the news that Kasprick had spent Christmas Eve, the greatest of German festivals, at his home in the village. Blit a greater surprise was in store. On the evening of Boxing Day a, strange man, singing merrily, entered one of the village inns. He was attired. in a huntsman’s uniform, with top boots, and wore ashagby beard In spite of this 'disguise, he was Qfuicklv recognised as Kasprick, but two formidable-looking pistols at his belt enforced respect. Taking a. seat at the table, he greeted his acquaintances jovially. He remarked that anyone who attempted to will the reward of 5.00 marks (£25) offered by the. police for his capture had better put'his affairs in order before doing so. No one made the venture. Kasprick stayed in the inn for half an hour, and then sauntered down the village streets to a dance hall. Here he went straight up to the platform, from which he repeated his threat against “traitors.” At his command the band then played his “favourite song,” as he called it, “Tlie Flower of Hawaii.” He sang this song loudly, and then walked out of tlie hall. When he was run to earth lie was in the motor ear of a local doctor, whose daughter he had saved from drowning sonic years ago. Tt was said that the wife of a German refugee from Russia, who resides in Bhyleguhre, also played some part in his sudden and mysterious appearance and disappearance.