IMPUDENT ROBBRRY AND CLEVER CAPTURE.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 61, 30 July 1879, Page 2

IMPUDENT ROBBRRY AND CLEVER CAPTURE.

On Friday evening Mr. Piers Warburton while paying a visit at the Bank of Australasia, m the/Square, tied up his horse to the past adjoining, but upon seeking it found that some one. bad untied tlie $nimal and decamped with it. Information was immediately give.n to the Police, when it was ascertained that a young man, a Btranger, had beeu seen riding the horse m, the direction of the G-orge. The. Constable was making preparations on Saturday to follow the runaway, when information was received that a man had attempted suicide at Buinesse, and he was consequently compelled to repair to the aid of the wounded sufferer. While on the, way down io the farm, when below Oroua Bridge, he passed a man riding a horse, which at a glance thfC Qonstable su.st pected to be the stolen animal' iDeternrined to capture the scoundrel' unaware, the Constable hit upon tbe following stratagem. Upon arrival at Oroua he waited for the 'horseman, and ifc was arranged that a friend should walk toward the st v anger— . the Constable being hidden m ambush—a rid while asking him some questions catch hbld v of the bridle, when the policeman would spring from his concealment, and so capture the robber. However, "the best laid schemes of men and mice gang aft aglee," for just as the plan was being put into execi^tion,.tlie friend [called out, "-Oh, Gtillespie, we've made a mistake ;.-that is not Waiburton's horae." The words were no sooner spoken than the l'obber turned the animal, clapped spurs to tha, side, and vi-ith a defiant yell was careering m ian^ opposite direction.: With gi'cat presence of mind, Constable Gfillespio Bprung upon a horse which, fortu- J

nately happene4^ be near, and then com-, menced a most exciting chase. The stolen horse is a " bit of blood," but the animal ip pursuit .was ridden by a man stimulated by a professional incentive, and so it was continued with ardor. A stern chase is a long one, but after some four or fiye miles had been travelled, the Constable closed -iipon the fugitive, who, however, declined to draw rein, so the pursuer had no other alternative than to ride him down and topple him over, which he did, giving him a slight tap with the handcuffs as a further inducement to surrender. This had the desired effect, the darbies were converted to their proper use, and the impudent rascal brought back to town and lodged m the lock-up. He made his appearance on Monday morning before Mr. McNeil, J.P., who remanded him Until Thursday, the usual Court day. As an instance of the cool effrontery of the rascal it may be stated that after stealing the horse he went to Hoe's Hotel, .and staid for the night, taking his departure next -morning with such deliberation as to entirely blind the landlord as to anything being wrong. The fellow is evidently an old hand at. that sort of business, as may be judged from his cunning m riding along the public road m the direction of the G-orge, and then doubling back later m the. night m an opposite direction. Howey.er, he is safely caged now, and it is more than probable that it' will be: some years before he hai a chance of aga^n exhibiting similar cleverness. '"'''■..