THE CAPTURE OF RICHARD HART.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2453, 28 January 1881, Page 4

THE CAPTURE OF RICHARD HART.

Auckland, Jan. 26,

The Melbourne “ Age ” says, referring to the capture of Steve Hart’s brotherNo little commotion was caused in Echuca on Friday by the rumor that the troopers had been sent for and were on the way to that place to go in pursuit of Steve Hart’s brother who had committed a bold highway robbery near Sandhurst on Saturday last. It will be remembered on that evening that a young man, armed with a revolver, stuck up a Chinaman at Knowsley .twelve miles from Heathcoate and robbed him of £5 in cash and a watch and chain. The Chinaman was returning with his cart from Sandhurst, where he had been delivering vegetables at the market. Prior to this the same man had ridden through the parish of Foolleen, situated about twenty miles from Heathcoate on the main Murray and Melbourne road, and there called out that he was “ Steve Hart’s brother and would let the people of Heathcoate know so before night." The young man in question was believed to be one John Smith, but it now turns out that he is Richard Hart, a brother of a member of the Kelly gang of bushrangers, and was in the act of returning from Greta to Ferrick across country when he showed himself at Knowsley and Foolleen. Since the outrage ot the former locality the police have been on the alert, for it was believed that the highway robber intended to visit Ferrick to see a young man named Richard Hart who was staying with Mr Cunningham of that place. Acting upon information which had been re ■ ceived the trjopers from Echuca, Gumborrer, Ferrick, Elmore, and Rochester, have consequently been on the alert, and the plains to West Echuca have been well patrolled during the past week. On Friday night information was received that a wanted man was making down through Torrumbarry to the Murray at Perricoota, where it was believed he intended to cross into New South Wales, and escape. The information proved correct, and all the available police were sent out in pursuit by Sergeant Hayes of Echuca. Amongst these was foot constable Thomas Corkhill, who was sent out in plain clothes. He obtained a clue at Torrumbarry on Friday and followed it up. On Saturday he learnt that his man had crossed the Murray at Thomson’s,Perricoota. At 8 a.m. that day he came up with his quarry, about two miles from Perricoota station, and there captured him. Constable Corkhill swam his horse across the Murray, and found Hart tramping in an easterly direction. Hart said ho was going across country,but it is believed he was making either for Deniliquin Railway or for Greta. When arrested, Hart admitted that he had stuck up a Chinaman, but said he had only robbed him of £3. He was unarmed when captured, and accounted ior the disappearance of his revolver by saying that he had thrown it into the Campasae River at Clare Inn, Bornedown. Hart was brought into Echuca, and placed in the lock-up. He is a repulsive looking, young man of the bush larrikin type,_ aged about twenty. He was dressed in diark tweed trousers, check shirt, dirty, and slouched black hat with a veil, elastic side boots, and wore a greasy neckerchief. He is sullen and vicious in appearance, has lost several teeth, and looks stealthily at an interrogator. He states, that he was making up country when arrested, and that he crossed into New South I Wales because there were too many/ police about iu Victoria.