THE ELUSIVE POWELKA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 364, 15 April 1910, Page 5

THE ELUSIVE POWELKA.

SERGEANT MAGUIRE DEAD. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmcrston North, Yesterday. Sergeant Maguire, who was shot in the affray with I'owelka in Hampton's garden on Sunday night, succumbed to lug wound at 0 o'clock this morning. SKETCH OF HIS CAREER. Wellington, Last Night. The late Sergeant Maguire, who was shot at Palmcrston, was aged forty-one and had been a member of th« police force for sixteen years. He served in Dunedin for some time, but twelve years ago came to Wellington, until the end of last week, and did duty in the district office, where he had obtained the position of chief clerk. Four y.'ar* ego he was promoted to the rank of sergeant, and had the reputation of being a zealous and efficient officer. When he left for Palmcrston a few days ago he was accorded a hearty send-off by all sections of the force here. It was hoped that his health, which had' not been too good of late, would 'benefit by fresh air and outdoor work. BODY TAKEN TO WELLINGTON. » Wellington, Last Night. The body of Sergeant Maguire was brought to Wellington by the late train from Palmerston to-night. The funeral will probably take place on Sunday afternoon. The inquest will be opened at Palmerston- on Saturday. MR. QUIRKE'S FUNERAL. A SOLEMN CEREMONY. PALMERSTON PEOPLE MOST SYMPATHETIC. Pahiatua, Last Night. The funeral of the late Michael Quirke, the victim of Monday 'nights' tragedy ir. Palmerston, took place this afternoon in drenching rain. A preliminary service in the Catholic Church was conducted by Fathers McKenna and 1 Hickson, the latter being a cousin of deceased. There was a largecongregation present, including Mr. Henry Overton. The coffin was smothered with wreaths and stood in front of the high altar.

Signs of mourning were general in town, and large numbers in carriages, traps and other vehicles', followed the hearse to the cemetery. WHERE IS POWELKA? Palmerston North, Last Night. Powelka's last appearance was at Bunnythorpe dn Wednesday morning, when a constable fired two shots after him. Later in the day he was supposed to have been seen still further north near Makino. Since then nothing has been heard of him. POLICE UNCERTAIN. States the Palmerston correspondent of the Wellington^Times:— The police do not know where Powelka is. The Opera House >and other institutions are guarded, and the outskirts of the town are under watch. The Bunnythorpe incident was a blunder. Any man prowling about near a village at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning should have been held up and detained till the police were satisfied that lie was not wanted by them. There is one thins: about, the various hunts in the country particularly that is worth noting, and it is that town residents, whether police or civilians, are little use in the hush. Men unused to bush country will walk unconsciously over trails which are unseen by them but are obvious to experienced men. It would he well for the police to engage the services of keen experienced country men when they are tracking the fugitive in the backblocks. The batch of Powelka scares lias been less to-day than at any other time during the week. Boy scouts from Wellington are the latest addition to the hunting brigade.

•. There is a good deal of sympathy ! with the police who are spending such a miserable time in the search, especially *those who are out in the wet, dark, cheerless nights. POLICE SENT TO MAKINO. [ I understand the police sent some of its men out to Malkino to investigate information that the fugitive was about there, and, if necessary, to pursue the trail. The result of the trip is not yet to 'hand. Makino is a small settlement a couple of miles north of Feilding. Another rumor had it that Powelka has been seen in the Cheltenham neighborhood. It is said that a storekeeper between Palmerston and Feilding is feeling very uneasy for fear Powelka will trv to revenge himself on him for having given information to the police when the escapee got away on the first occasion. DOES POWELKA HEAD THE PAPERS? A Kelvin Grove resident declares that Powelka reads the daily papers. He says he saw a man pick up the newspaper at his place one evening, and on observing 1 that he was seen he quickly decamped. The resident puts the episode down to the fugitive. A Palmerston person who should know something of affairs of the kind believes there is a <rang of undesirable Australians operating here, and that Powelka- is not the author of all Palraerston's troubles. IS POWELKA DERANGED? THE EVIDENCE POINTS TO THAT. The Manawatu Daily Times says:— The police are faced in the curious proceedings of Powelka with a problem of a type 'they have never before had to face in New Zealand. Powelka differs from all other fugitives we have known in two things. He has not, if we leave the case of Sergeant Maguire aside for calm consideration as to accident or design, shown any inclination to injure anyone. He has not, in spite of his expected temporary disappearances, shown any desire to get away. Any other man, when he got over to Pahiatua, would have broken away into fresh and less guarded country, "and lay low as long as he coiiTct'consistent with getting fond. Instead, he ' returned right into the midst of his enemies. That points to a deranged mind. Again, when he was | dear away at Ashhurst", he had the j ranges and fresh country ahead, and | never went to it, returning again to a j community of twelve thousand neonle,, some of whom were openly seekin? his life, all of whom were seeking his liberty.