DANGEROUS CRIMINAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 October 1919, Page 4

DANGEROUS CRIMINAL.

THE CAPTURE or WARDEN_ ' CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 1-4. If the ammunition had fitted an automatic pistol, Constable Williams, of Sydenham, might have been shot yesterday. Robert Dickson Warden, the youngcriminal, who escaped from Mt. Eden. gaol, and was arrested yesterday, presented the pistol at the constable and .-pll__kl’,_le<i” f-11¢ ‘_tl'i.Bger ‘tw”ice,' but the-;_ wea“pawn w:_a;_'s jl;6’cA'l‘oaded.:. Wol‘deh stole the pistol from. a',_ house at Riécarton yesterdny, nndlhc pz'ocured arbox of cartridges,’ bu_t_‘ they‘ did not fit. _

. "(I‘hg' iz'lcid:ent='\bl-ingg out boldly t-h'e.i 'stE_i'tement _ maide‘ bY"‘Commissioller Don_oira;l at the, funeral of ”Con'stable'b Dad"-=5 ,di'ng,_ 9f Wellifigt.on,' who was shot ‘by‘ a Ndrwegiafi tlle ol;her day, that "thepoliceman carries his life in his h:l.mls fdaily_ '

The man to whom the credit for Warden’s ai-re'st primarily belongs is Conductor l\/I’acFarlane, of the tram» Ways.’ He recognised Warden on the car, as he had known him years ago. Eve then Warden’§ smooth manner nearly threw Constable Williams off the -scent. When th econstable accosted him he made avery plausible protest against “being made a ‘fool of” in front of the bystanders. Constable Williams insisted that‘ Warden should establish his identityHe dcmurred at first, but finally put his‘ hand in his hip pocket, saying, "Oh! Yes, I think I can prove who I am..” VVhen he; Witlidrew his hand ‘,l*_n was -holding a revolver, which he presented straight at the constable: and snappad the trigger‘ twice. Constable Williams closed with him_ At the moment’ in postman cycled along, and. taking Tthe si*;uation in at a glance, he leaped‘ ion W:,:.rden,‘and, with Constable Wil|liams_, bore him down, assisted by the

bystanders. In the absence of handcuffs the cs--capee was trussed up with ropes and taken :0 the police station by ‘motorlorry. It is supposed that Warden had been hiding somewhere on fhe Port Hills. The police are of the opinion that Warden is almost a criminal lun~ atic, and has no sense of the value of. human life. He is now a noted gaol-A breaker, and his very self-possessed manner has stood -him in good stead. It is considered by the police that he did very Well to get from Aucx-land to Christchurch without detection, but he will be narrowly watched in custody, as he -is liable to bolt again, ‘and it is feared that he may Secure arms and turn them on the police next time..