The Taranaki Highwayman.

Manawatu Herald, 1 November 1892, Page 2

The Taranaki Highwayman.

The fourth case of highway robbery within the last two or three months occurred on Saturday night at New Plymouth. At about 9 o'clock a man named Carthew was leading a horse in the suburbs, about 10 minutes walk from the centre of the town, when a man on horseback, dres&ed in an officer's uniform, with sword and revolver, rode np to him and demanded his money and jewellery He gave up his watch and three threepenny pieces, that was all the money he had on him, and the highwayman rode on towards the town. A few minutes after this the highwayman bailed up another man named Kibby, who said ho was a poor man and had no money. The highwayman said, " Pass on, I don't want to rob a poor man." Growing bolder the highwayman rode right into tbe town, and stuck up another man in front, of a grocers shop, with 20 or 30 people around. This man also said he had no money, and was not molested. The highwayman remained for about a minute coolly looking at the people, and then rode off. He was pursued by a man on horseback, but escaped. The police also wsnt in pui'suit sometime after. No trace of the highwayman, however, could be found. The police ai*e puzzled over the affair. Formerly they treated the matter as a hoax, but now it is beyond dispute that the highwayman makes periodical raids in order to gain booty. On a former occasion he stuck up a tollgatekeeper and got several pounds in silver. — Press Association.