News of Jonathan Roberts.

Manawatu Herald, 19 May 1894, Page 3

News of Jonathan Roberts.

The case of Jonathan Roberts the New Zealand " Jack Sheppard," is now- definitely cleared up, and it is kftfwn that the man is in Valparaiso attire 'present time, editiug a newspaper. It will be remembered that Roberts escaped no fewer than three times from gaols in New Zealand, and on- the last occasion he succeeded in eluding the police and getting out Qf the country. Since then various ! rumours have been current 113 to his whereabouts, some of the Maori!an<3 papers stating some two years ago that he was fighting with the Government troops in the Chilian revolution, and held a high command. §ince then nothing has been heard of the clever gaol-breaker until a few days ago, when a member of the Staff of this journal who knew Roberts in New Zealand received a letter from Chili givirg a sketch of bis career. It appears that the writer, who is the captain of a ship, also knows Roberts, and met him in Valparaiso. The escaped convict assured him that after breaking from gaol tie reached Newcastle in a schooner from Lyttleton, and at this port he, shipped before the mast in a coal-laden vessel for Iquique, Chili, never fought in the war, and ajthpugh bis past life is known to a considerable number of people, he JiftS'ma'ny friends and lives rather a fast life". — Newcastle Morning fir^-^'^e;--- ■•■•■■ - ■-