USE OF BLACK TRACKERS.

Shannon News, 14 March 1924, Page 4

USE OF BLACK TRACKERS.

AJPKAID OP ARMED MEN,

The experience of the polico in the hunt for the Jingellic fugitive lias con. vinced them (says the Melbourne 'Age') that black trackers are worse than useless in cases where the wanted person is believed to be armed or is accounted dangerous. Early in the hunt for Batson a black tracker was brought to Jingellic; and when it was. known that the wanted man was likeJy to be 'captured near Jbrummond's, farm, as he had crossed the river at that spot" and .left his rifle there, the tracker! was brought to the spot by some of the principal officers. T.he tracks of naked feet across the road were visible to the officers, but when the tracker was asked to locate the wanted mam, he said: "Him lay dawn here, cock his rifle, and shoot," intending to convey that if the fugitive saw him he .would shoot. He insisted that the wanted man had made for the hills, and not for the river, when th" tracks'pointed in the opposite diree~ that if it had been the case of a lost child or woman, where no danger wa£ involved, the tracker would have put the police on the right track at the tion. The officers formed the opinion, outset. ■