A WINCHESTER JACK SHEPPARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2559, 3 June 1881, Page 2

A WINCHESTER JACK SHEPPARD.

The wonted serenity of Winchester, usually the sleepiest of little places, has been rudely disturbed. Last Tuesday afternoon a swagger named McManus called at Swinton’s Hotel with some companions, and the party were supplied with a number of drinks. McManus then left for Orari, but returned to Winchester the same evening, and called at Swinton’s again, disposing of sundry nips and generally making himself comfortable for the evening. A little later, while Mr Swinton’s back was turned for a few minutes, his cashbox, containing £9 in cash, and papers and documents to the value of about £270 (fortunately of no use to anyone but the owner, and some of which have been recovered) disappeared, and as Mr McManus disappeared about the same time, Mr Swinton’s suspicions were naturally excited, and accompanied by a constable be proceeded to the Orari Hotel, where they found McManus in bed, and fast asleep. With some little trouble the unwelcome fact that he was “ wanted ” on a charge of being concerned in the disappearance of Mr Swinton’s cash-box was forced upon him, and he had to go to the Geraldine lock-up. He made Lis appearance in due course before the Bench, and was remanded for seven days. Not caring about so much McManus managed to get away next night instead. Fortunately for him Senior-Constable Willoughby happened tobe temporarily in charge of the lock-up, and being unacquainted with the fastening of the door (secured by a spring bolt), he did not make the prisoner quite so fast as he intended to. This Mr McManus, being of an observant turn of mind, was not slow to perceive, and when the constable next visited the cell the bird had flown.

The police have since been searching far and wide, but have not succeeded up to the present in tracing the fugitive. Just as we are going to press information reaches us of the arrest of McManus to-day, by Constable Rouse, at llakaia.