THE RUAHINE TRAGEDY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 103, 4 January 1915, Page 4

THE RUAHINE TRAGEDY.

CAPTURE OF ROTTERMAN,

ARRESTED NEJAR WELLINGTON,

SURROUNDED BT POLICE

HIDING IN THE BUSH

WELLINGTON, Jan. *

As the result of a well-laid plan, the police on Saturday effected the arrest of tihe young German, Arthur Rotterman, vitbo was wanted on a charge of having murdered a farmer teamed McCann.) together ‘with ins wife and child, at Ruahine. nine miles from Mangawei:a ,on or abour December 28th.

Word was by the police in Wellington 0 n Friday evening that a mart, answering Rotterman's )description, had. on the previous afternon put in an appearance at a whare at Karori Rock (near Cape T era whit I), where men are engaged in connection with the lighthouse. He was at the hut when the occupier left for town cn Thursday afternoon, and he slept there the same night. As soon as the information was received, Detective Lewis, Mounted Constable Dunn and Constable Thompson were despatched on horseback, via Island Bay, to proceed along the beach to the locality. At (he same time Detectivo-Sergt. Rawle, Detective Dempsey and Mounted Constable Pearson were sent to Terawdiiti, via Makara, When the police reached the whare where Rotterman had been left, it was found he had disappeared. The two parties of police separated. Detective Lewis, and the two constables with him, were allotted the southern portion of the country, and Detective Rawle’s group the north. The latter party went on to Te Kamara Station, and there learnt that a man, apparently a foreigner ,had left that place about P-m. 011 Friday. Presumably he had vacated thr whare at Karori Rock shortly after the occupier left for town. On New Year’s Day the latter -went home by way cf Island Bay, while the -foreigner nrerceded in the other direction" -to Te Kamara, reaching that station about G p.m. Tie had evidently taken his departure from the station just before the arrival of Detective Rawie’p party, and from what they w ?re abb to ascertain it wiis simpered that lm had made his way into a clump of bush not far away. Ihe officers there fore surrounded the bush and close- 1 in, and eventually found Rotterman sitting alongside a tree, apparently in hiding. They covered him with a revolver. and he was taken in charge without offering any resistance. Next morning he was taken over the hills to Makara. which was reached about 1 p.m. A conveyance brought him the rt*g or" the distance to Lambton Sta tiou, where he was taken over by the authorities at a quarter to six last evening. The accused, who is 21 years of age. is of an athletic tyne. and when arrested he was wearing a blue suit and white straw hat. He will appear in Court to-morrow morning when a remand will be asked fcr.