RUM RUNNING THRILLS.

Shannon News, 23 April 1926, Page 4

RUM RUNNING THRILLS.

DOINGS OF “HI-JACKJERS.” I DRAMATIC POLICE CAPTURE. I HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING. VANCOUVER, March 24. The doings of the brothers Marsden, I famous characters of Rolf Boldre- I wood’s Australian romance, "Robbery I Under Arms, ' says the Vancouver I correspondent of the Auckland “Her- I aid,” are emulated in more modern I setting and with more modern wea- I pons by the brothers, Eggers, allleegd I notorious “hi-jackers,” one of whom, I wanted by the Canadian police for two I years, has been dramatically captured | by the police of Tacoma, the capital I of the neighbouring State of Washing- I ton. A "hi-jacker” is a rum-runner I who steals another rum-runner’s cargo { or rifles liis cache. I There were four brothers, Milo, I Ariel, Theo and Happy. On March j 4, two years ago, they came under I the notice of the people of British Columbia by the sensational “hijacking" of the whisky shipji, Kyak and Hadsel, at Peter’s Cove, Pender Island, British Columbia. Milo and Ariel, it is alleged, went to the cove on the night of March 3, 1924, with Uvo other men, and held up the Kyak. All four were masked. They bound the Kyak’s crew of two men, and held them prisoners all night. 1 In the morning, the Hadsel, a Canadian boat, entered the cove, carrying 292 cases of wihsky. One of the crew of the captured Kyak was freed of his bonds, and, at the point of rifles held in the hands of the “hi-jackers," who remained hidden, was forced to give.the Hadsel the secret sign of recognition as the Kyak was run along side. Arrest of Two Brothers. Milo and Ariel were arrested at San Francisco a year ago; and Theo was arrested about the same time at Atlanta, Georgia. All were being held for extradition at the request of the British Columbia police. Theo gained his liberty on a technicality at Atlanta, before the papers arrived, was subsequently arrested, and is now serving his sentence.

Before he fell into the clutches of I the law again, however, Theo, accord-j ing to one report, or his brother, j Happy, according to another, or both, brought off a sensational coup in San Francisco, in an attempt to take their two brothers from the Marshal’s guard en route to the police station for the extradition proceedings. The Marshal was blinded by an ammonia gun. There was hand-to-hand fighting in the streets in which Ariel fell dead from a bullet fired by one of his rescuers. Milo escaped. | Inspector Forbes Cruickshank, of tile British Columbia police, has a reputation along the Pacific littoral for apprehending classic criminals similar to that held by Detectice Roche, of Sydney, in the days of, the Deeming murders, over 30 years ago. He followed his men across the United States, and finally trailed them to Ta>coma, where he took up his location until he could make sure of them. In the meantime one got away, or was temporarily absent when Milo's dramatic arrest was brought about. Milo Brought to Bay. ' Thirty shot-gun police took up positions outside the apartment house where Milo was believed to be living with his wife. The guns were sawed off short, in accordance with a practice gaining ip popularity among police on the North American Continent now. Others were armed with tear gas bombs. At the first call, Mild appeared at a window, and, having satisfied himself that lie was trapped, quietly gave himself UPFearing another coup, the guard was kept at 30 strong, until finally Forbes Cruickshank got his man, now accredited as the leader of the quartette, into the cells at Vancouver, where he now is.