SENSATION AT RAETIHI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2449, 4 July 1922, Page 2

SENSATION AT RAETIHI.

ESCAPED PRISONER CHASED. RIFLE SHOTS IN THE BUSH. Information was received by Inspector Fouhy at Wanganui on Monday evening of a sensational affair at Raetihi( says Monday’s Wanganui Chronicle). . The affair began with the arrest of a young Maori named Joe Raw,4 iri. He was apprehended on ThurskL day in Raetihi by Constable Mc--Cowan on a charge of breaking and' entering and theft. At the police station the constable proceeded to' search the man who thereupon bolted for the door. The constable . grabbed him by the coat but the ‘ Maori wrenched himself free. The 1 constable started in pursuit but the Maori had the advantage. Then Constable Annison (Ohakune) and King (Taihape) came on the scene, and a message was sent to Wanganui. This was on Friday, and Constables McMullen, Roger Wilson and Herdman, armed .with revolvers went off to the scene at once. The six" police set out to track down the Maori. Yesterday they located his whereabouts in very rough country. Rawiri is stated to have opened fire with a .303 rifle, ihe bullets striking the trees in the vicinity of the constables, but fortunately none of them were hit. Constables McMullen and McGowan are said to have been closest to the casualty list. The distance and the conditions made the constables’ revolvers ineffective and before, an encircling movement could be carried out Rawiri was off again. The details of this brush among the hills of Murmuru are very inadequate. Police reports are very matter of fact, also telephonic conditions on the Wanganui-Raetihi line where at their worst when an endeavour was made to get in touch with Raetihi. The police at any rate secured possession of Rawiri’s rifle, and anticipate, despite the nature of the country in which the Maori has taken refuge to run the fugitive to earth. Rawiri is a young, man of 28. In the Police Gazette, he is described as being sft Bin in height, with dark brown eyes and broad nose. Up to now his lawbreaking has been confined to breaking and entering and theft, for which he has seven or eight convictions and been declared an habitual criminal. He was released on probation in December, 1919, but broke his license.