A CLEVER ARREST OF A DESPERATE MAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 100, 28 April 1879, Page 4

A CLEVER ARREST OF A DESPERATE MAN.

[PXB FBBSO AGENCT]. Napier, Wedaesday. A clever - capture was made by the polios on Monday night oc the Pakaogata ranges. For some time paat there haa been -a chase after t> man named Roderick Hugh M'Lennae, who, passing himself oft ia Napier mt toan of wealth froca Oantarbapy, aboat to par-

chase Lawrence's Homewood Statioo, got into debt in ail directions, psyiug with valueless cheques, because he intimated, at the time of giving th.m that funds were yet to be provided for them by money that was coming from Canterbury. He put up at tho Masonic Hotel, and there his wife died, and a considerable portion of his debts was io connection wilh ber funeral, wbieh was sn expensive afLir, the tombstone cosiicg £90. At hist M'Lennan got hhceelf within crimiral jurisdiction. He gave a valueless cheque without reservation, in p.yment for a bottle of whisky. The cheque wns for 30.., and be got the cbnn-je. For some days be managed lo elude the police, but on Monday night Inspector Scully and Constable Raymond ran him to eartb. M'Leonan bad a revolver concealed in bis coat-sleeve, and he quickly took it down and presented it at the police, but it missed fire. Inspector Scully threw M'Lenoau's arm up immediately, but the latter turned tbe revolver found to h ier. a If. His wrist was, however seized by Constable Raymond, and he was prevented from firiDg. He was then handcuffed and conveyed to the lock-up. Constable Maynes had also been sent up disguised ss a farmer, to endeavor to capture M'Leonan, rind came on Ibe scene just as tbe arrest was (ffected, Maynes bad passed himself cff at M 'Donald's aa an old mate of M'l.eanan's, aod as be said he bad a letter for M'Lennan, ho was directed wbere to find him. It i 8 very likely tbat bad he beeo a little earliar he would have been shot by M'Lellan whose capture without casualty was no doubt due to his beiog tiken by surprise. Tbis morning he was brought up at the police court, and remanded till next Wednesday* It is stated tbat a warrant ib out against him in Can turbary for forgery, besides which it is not improbable a more serious charge will be brought against him in connection with bis wife's death. The police cootemplate having tbe body exhumed, and an inquest hel_. M'Lennan is a quiet, miiu-looking man, but he states that he was fully determined not to he taken alive. A latter tbat Iwas intercepted from M'Lennan to a person in Napier shows clearly enough the desperate nature of bis intentions. In Ibe letter he gives instructions as to the disposal of bis effects, aod those belonging to his deceased wife, aod then he aaye — " As I am bunted by the police incessantly, I am determined to escape or die. I hove been a free msn and will remain so till I die. So, whoever tries to catch me will have a hard tack. Should Ibe killed, please get me buried witb the dust of. my beloved wife, who is happy now, aod escaped ail those difficulties without experiencing them. The sooner I follow her (he better, and if I kill one of the police they will bave more reason to bunt me more thsn for a few pounds of money. If I should be killed, you need not *#y io to the people at Home, but tbat I died • natural death."