ROBBERY AT PALMERSTON NORTH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 822, 5 April 1910, Page 3

ROBBERY AT PALMERSTON NORTH.

MASKFD AND ARMKD

ROBBFR

SAID TO BF POWFFKA

Mr and Mrs J. Kendall, of Palmerston North, had a very trying experience with a masked and armed robber late on Saturday night. On returning to their home on Foxton Fine, they noticed just outside their gate a sack lying under a willow tree. On making investigations it was found to contain a tablecloth and a piece of bacon and a fowl which had been prepared for Sunday’s dinner. Near by was a small leather bag, and this was occupied by a bottle of Mrs Kendall’s pickles and a large cake she had made that day.

On going into the house they found it in complete disorder. It was apparent that some uniiivMted guest had paid a visit and was searching for money. He had ripped open boxes, and thrown their contents all over the floor, ransacked clothes, and turned the place generally “up-side-down.” The visitor forced the small dairy open, and waded into Mrs Kendall’s cream in royal fashion. A loaf of bread had been attacked and the few remaining pieces showed it was simply torn to pieces and devoured, and the hungry one had made an ample meal on bread, pickles and cream.

Mr Kendall was under the impression that he had received a visit from a couple of boys who were said to have escaped from the Weraroa training lann and accordingly went out on to the road to investigate. He found no trace of anyone, and returned inside. Then his wife suddenly remembered she had left the candle on the gale post, and sent him out to get it. On reaching the gate, which is at the side of the house, and some distance from the road, Mr Kendall noticed a man coming towards the house from Foxton line. The visitor did not see the owner of the house for some time, and came along at his usual gait, Mr Kendall said he recognised the man as Powelka and said to himself, “ By gad, here comes Joe Powelka for a feed !” He knew Powelka well ; worked with him at the abattoirs for a long time. “ When he saw me at the gate,” continued Mr Kendall, “he crouched down and then turned and faced me. He had a revolver in each hand, and he said : ‘ Your money, you ! It’s your money I want! ’ ” Mr Kendall replied that he didn’t have any money, and the man then became more threatening than ever.

“You think I’m playing with you. do you ? he said in a hissing tone, which is a peculiarity of Povvelka’s utterance. “ You don’t think thcy’s loaded, eh?” And with that he commenced to flourish his weapons in front of bis victim’s eyes. Then he playfully stroked Mr Kendall’s cheeks with the cold steel, and the latter remarked to a reporter ; “I was always under the impression that I suffered from heart disease, but I’m satisfied now I don’t, because I didn’t drop dead ! ” Mr Kendall, thinking matters somewhat more serious than he had anticipated, began now to turn out his pockets, the result being that he produced a shilling, and handed it over. His wife, hearing the conversation, came out, and then their terrifying visitor transferred his attentions to the lady. He demanded her purse, with dreadful threats, and she immediately returned to the house and produced a little black bag. As the robber had already been through that particular bag and found nothing in it he became furious, and made more violent threats.

“ You think these are not loaded, do you ? ” he said again, and holding one of the revolvers within a foot of the lady’s head he fired. The bullet went so close to her head that Mrs Kendall could feel it brushing past her cheek. She very naturally fainted. At this juncture, assistance came in an unexpected fashion. The flashing ot a bike lamp some distance away was seen by the robber, who seemed to think it was time to get. He therefore crouched down, and crept along the fence, got into the drain that runs between the old and the new road, and disappeared. Mr Kendall, thinking his wife was hurt, called to the cyclist, who came in. He immediately went for assistance to the neighbours, and then rode up to inform the police of the circumstances. Asked about the general appearance of his visitor, Mr Kendall said that for some time he did not notice what he was wearing. He was too busy studying the guns ! However, when he had more leisure, he said that Powelka had a mask made of black cloth drawn over his eyes, and covering the upper half of his face. The lower half was covered with a neckerchief, so that the man’s features were unrecognisable. He wore a cap and an old grey overcoat, and also had a broad belt round his waist. “ I only lost six shillings altogether,” said the victim of the raid, “ but my wife’s black silk blouse was lorn to pieces, and it was part of'that which was round Powelka’s head for a mask.” Mr Kendall, in reply to another question, stated that Powelka knew very well that he got paid on a Saturday night, for when they had worked together at the abattoirs they had often broken their cheques together of a Saturday in town. He also knew that Mr and

Mrs Kendall lived alone, and they would he easy quarry for a person with two revolvers.

The police have been scouring the country for the robber, but so far he has not been captured, although some later traces of his presence were found nearer town.