LONG MAN-HUNT.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 291, 21 November 1936, Page 6

LONG MAN-HUNT.

YOUTHS CAPTURED. Charges Of Conversion Of Motor-car. Press Association-—CopyrLyht. Wairoa, Last Night. A long hunt in rough hill country behind Terapatiki for two youths who it was alleged borrowed a motor-car at Palmerston North on Tuesday morning culminated in the capture yesterday of the youths, who were brought io Wairoa and were charged to-day before a justice of the peace with theft and with converting the car. The youths had been roaming about the hills for two nights, and when captured were in an exhausted condition. Their boots had gone and their feet were cut and blistered, and they' had nothing to eat but a few raw eggs and a little bread, which, it is stated, they had procured from a farm house. They appeared to be relieved when they were caught hiding in scrub by Sergeant D. Clark and Constable Gatehouse.

The task of the police was no easy one, for the country is particularly rough. After scouring the country all day on Wednesday they received advice from settlors, who also played a big part in the hunt, that the youths had been seen among the hills early yesterday morning. The police set out for the spot where they had been seen. After climbing for about two hours in terrific heat they eventually found the youths hiding in scrub. They had a blanket which they had stolen from a farm house. When the youths appeared in court they were remanded to appear Palmerston North on a charge of converting a car valued at £5OO. Their names were suppressed. On charges of stealing a blanket valued at 5s and stealing 17 gallons of petrol valued at £1 14s they pleaded guilty and were admonished and discharged. Sergeant Clark said some of the petrol was taken from a tractor and the rest was taken from a drum.