Ellis Run to Earth

Manawatu Herald, 13 December 1904, Page 3

Ellis Run to Earth

BROBERG CONCERNED IN THE CAP CURE. IN THE WILDS OF H .WKE’S BAY. Napier telegrams state great excitement ruled in that town on Saturday by the report that the man John McKenzie, rdias John William Ellis, wanted in connection with the murder of Leonard Collinson at Te A waite, Wairarapa, on 26th Feb., 1904, had been captured at Kereru, The news proved correct, the capture having been effected by Detective Broberg, of Wellington, and Constable Willcocks, of Waipawa, who were accompanied by a guide, about 1.30 p.m., on Saturday in a hut on Mr John Anderson’s Kereru run, at the foot of the Kaimanawa Range. The detective and constable had Been to the hut twice previously, and on account of noticing that a fire had only lately been used, returned on Saturday to find their prey there be ora them. The surprise was mutual, and they succeeded in capturing him without resistance. fie had in his possession a Jackson *lO3 repeating rifle and a six chambered revolver, fully loaded, so things may have gone worse with the capiurors, Ellis was suspected of being in the district owing to huts being robbed of provisions, but in every case these huts were situated on hilltops where the man would have a good view of the country and could see anyone approaching. From one place a cake was missed some time ago, from which a piece of paper found afterwards directed the way of the supposed thief. The search was kept up constantly all last week.

MiKenzie, who was an expert bushman, might have eluded capture for months but for the fortunate circumstance of the party finding him in,the hut. He had used the hollow of a burned tree for camping ground, and lined it with the hide of a bullock he had shot. He also used smokeless firewood where obtainable. So wild was the country, however, that the search party had to wade a stream ten times to find the hut, ACCUSED REMANDED. Ellis was charged at Waipawa yesterday with the murder of Collinson and with robbery from Hirst’s house. He was remanded to Wellington on the 19th. [The history of the crime Ellis is to be charged with is too well known to need repititiion. To evade capture for such a time and live on what food came his way in the wilds of the East Coast for nine months stamps him as a master of bushmen. His courage cannot be doubted, though whether he will find favour with the jurors set to oast the verdict remains to be seen The circumstances of the murder will cause the trial to be watched with marked interest.]