THE ELUSIVE POWELKA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 365, 16 April 1910, Page 5

THE ELUSIVE POWELKA.

! WEARY VIGILS. v LATE .SERCEAXT MAUllliE. 1 THE "SCOUTS" SCOLTEI). By Telegraph—Press Association. l'almeraton North, Lust Night, lesterday was another quiet day in connection with the search ior Powelka which, however, is being .prosecuted with unabated vigor by the police throughout the district. It was an exceedingly try.mg day, with a bitterly cold wind, heavy rain storms, and thunder and lightning, ,and the searchers in various directions had an extremely unpleasant time. The ■lain is likely to have sent up the creeks .in some of the higher country last nio-lit and though the rain had'ceased, "the wind continued very cold, but had abated somewhat from the gale of the day. Such weather as this," while unpleasant to the searchers, must also be very trying to the fugitive, unless, as seems improbable, he is 'being harbored somewhere.

j The police are still enquiring into the incident of the shot alleged to have been fired at the Foxton train tiie nijlit before last, but do not connect it with Powelka.

In connection with the incident of the "sticking up" of Mr. Laybourn (on Monday night) and Mr. E. Pratt, a summons lias been issued against a local resident on a charge of assault. The matter will 1?C ventilated in the Magistrate's Court,

In the ease of Mr. Laybourn, it will 1)0 remembered that lie was stuck up '.ontsidn his own house by a man who, according to Mr. Laybouni's story, claimed to he Powelka, and who, ho alleges. presented a revolver at him. In ■Mr. Pratt's story lie stated that lie was stuck up by 1111 individual with a revolver, and who he laughingly told to "go home." The inquest in connection with the death of the late Serpennt Mairuire will open at 11 a.m. to-morrow, before Mr. A. D. Thomson, S.M.. Acting-Coroner, and a jury. After the jury lias been sworn in it will be taken to Mr. Hampton's house in Ferguson-street to the scene ofi the tragedy, and the enquiry will resume at 2 p.m. There will be evidence as to statements made by the [ late Sergeant Maguire, The direct evidence will he from Detective Quarter--I;main and Mr. Hampton, and there will also ho the evidence of Detective Siddells flnd Constables Dunn and Kincr. . The five Dominion Scouts and their officer, regarding whom there has been so much controversy, returned to Wo!lincrton to-dav. Thev were somewhat distrusted with the coolness with which thev had been received b n re. The mq*t censorious references to tb" -Scout*, however, appeared in the Wellington papers.

REPORTS ABOUT POWELKA

A FORMER FRIEND'S STORY. MATRTMOXTAL TROUBLES. A late resident of Ashhurst, now living at Napier, has nil interesting story to tell concerning Powelkn. "T have known him." he s'aid. "about live years. When he first ca-ne to Ashhurst he was one of the nioasnni-est young fellows von could wish to meet. 1 used to knock about with him. and imtnrnllv saw a great deal of him. He was very ponular. About four or five months niro he became yen* ill, and was taken to Palmerston Hospital. wher« ne was delirious. When he came out he did not return to- his Ashhurst employers. Messrs. Hart Bros., but worked at the abattoirs' at Lone-burn. He married Mi«s Lizzie Wilson, of Ashhurst, an extremely popular girl, who kept a small fruit sbon a.nd tea-rooms. He had only been married three divs when, it is alleged. he beran to ill-treat her. Mrs. Powelka applied for a separation order and aot it, but he seems to have induced her to take him TTe on-"? pretended to commit suicide in a small lal*e, near Loncrburn. with 2ft. of water. He is dark eomplexioned. and of Polish origin."