The Taranaki Highway mem,

Manawatu Herald, 14 February 1893, Page 2

The Taranaki Highway mem,

A sensation was : created^iii ;New Plymouth at a quarter to eleven on Saturday night i by, the sudden appearance of the highwayman. He - entered the White ;Hari;;JTotel in Devon street, opposite the Government Buildings, and. presented "a revolver at the barman, and simultaneously held a pistol close tb the head of one of the men '^howair drinking in the bar. He •Do not move or I'll fii&g iTJjtffe ,. were five or six persons^^^^e.^--bar at the time, and fhe^liSfi^i left but one. The- high^k^nW^ wore a mask, and had an officer's uniform and 'sword. He- : cMiy opened the inner bar door and took 15s which was on' a,Ur&y,y,then reached down a bottle oik-whisky from a shelf, and deliberately marched out, his sword clanging in the passage as he went. There were 18 persons in the house at the time. Some in the billiardroom heard the noise, but took no notice. The highwayman was in the hotel five minutes; : No one folloWefl /to see what direction he took. He went " out of the front door and must have walked across the street and mounted his horse, for shortly afte? he ifajj seen on horseback. Wheti about 100 yards of the police station he fired a pistol, probably to deter persons from ' pursuing him.: 'He; however, let his pistol fall, and' lt was picked up this morning. It had ' been loaded with small shot, and several shot were picked out of the feace where the charge struck; He galloped along Courtney street. at a furious pace, annulled up when he reached Govern street, and continued at a walking pace fora time.- Two d persons state that they bet him near ™ Mitcßrason'a gardens, and Jie fired at them. The' police, -witlP 1 Inspector I Thompson, went in pursuitj :but the ji highwayman got safely away. , The I! police kept up the search all night without effecting his capture. There was only one policeman on duty at

the time the robbery was committed , and he was at the* othe'* end of the town. The police force is too small for the requirements of the place, and it is absolutely iiecesaary it should be increased. The highwayman has invariiibly made his appearance'on Saturday night, but this has been his most daring feat. Th .> police expect to trace him. They have f und the bottle of whisky. — Press Association.