THE CAPTURE OE WIEBERG.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 128, 30 May 1879, Page 4

THE CAPTURE OE WIEBERG.

Mblboubne, May 19 Martin Wieberg, who escaped from the detective police, when " gammoning " to show them the place where he bad planted the sovereigns 5000 of which were stolen from tbe R.M.S. Avoco, was recaptured near theTarwin River on Friday. Ever since his escape it has been reported to the authorities from time to time that he was still in hiding somewhere in tbe locality, and frequent expeditions have been made by tbe police in search of him, but they have alwayß been foiled. It ie believed that he hat hitherto been sheltered from tbe police by persons living in the neighbourhood. A few weeks ago it was reported that he was attempting to get away from the colony by coming in disguise by steamer to Melbourne, and then taking on outwßrd-bound vessel. The detectives consequently boarded every vessel from the Eastern coast which entered Port Phillip. All efforts, however, were fruitless until Friday, when Weiberg was captured by MountedConstable Teylor and Detective Eggledon, at Tarwin, apparently in the vicinity of hia old haunts. They searched for Weiberg for a fortnight, before they could obtain any trace of his whereabouts, although tbey bad received trustworthy information that he wbb in the neighborhood. On Friday they came across tracks which they had no doubt were Weiberg's. Following these, they found him at 4 o'clock iu tbe morning in a scrub. Wieberg immediately bolted, in a similar manner to the occasion when he was successful. The police were this time efficiently armed ; and after one shot from Eggleeton and two from Taylor, the second of which proved too close to bis head, Weiberg threw up his hands and called out, "I surrender." The pursuit of the prisoner, from the run off until his capture, was very energetic, and the country being rough the officers were at one time afraid tbat Weiberg would succeed in getting away. He did not give in until he saw his case was hopeless, and that the officers were fully determined to shoot him down if they could not catch him alive. The prisoner was securely handcuffed and brought into Griffith's Point, where he was taken before three justices of the peace and remanded to Melbourne. 2Olh May. There was great excitement yesterday afternoon concerning the arrival of Weiberg. Thousands of people congregated at the coach office, in the vicinity of the city lock-up, and along the route taken by the mail coach, The detective police, however, intercepted the coach before it reached the city, and took the prisoner to Melbourne Gaol by another route Tbe detectives have since recovered over 800 sovereigns secreted in a cask of tallow at Emerald Hill. This was sent up by Weiberg to purchase and fit out a schooner, in which he intended to effect his escape. The police also got about fifty sovereigns from Weiberg's wife. The prisoner appears to be in excellent health aod spirits, and evidently considers himself very clever. He says that the Melbourne Gaol and Pentridge are not strong enough to hold him. It is believed that he cannot be prosecuted for illegally escaping from custody, as the remand warrant bad expired when he escaped. It is now quite certain that his story about Ellison, the mate of the steamer Avoca being implicated in the robbery is untrue, as already 1500 sovereigns have been recovered, whereas Weiberg said that Ellison only gave him 500 sovereigns as hia share. The only evidence against Weiberg, for the gold robbery is his own confession and the finding of the gold.