POWELKA IN COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 379, 3 May 1910, Page 5

POWELKA IN COURT.

CHARGED WITH ROBBERY. COMMITTED FOll TRIAL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston North, May 2. The Court was crowded again this morning when the second uaich of charges against Joseph John l'owelka were called on. There are half a dozen charges, including arson at the High School, arson at Messrs. Miliar «nd Uiorgi's temporary premises, and robbery under arms on the Foxton line. Mi. Loughnan is appearing for the prosecution, and Mr. Gilford Moore, for l'owelka. Detectives (Jassells and Siddell are engaged in the case. The charge of stealing from .John 1 Kendall at Awapuni by with a revolver was first called on. In tiie case of alleged robbery under arms preferred against l'owelka, the complainant, John Kendall, stated that ou April 2 he and his wife left their house and went to town. They looked the doors before leaving. On returning about IO.ISO they found, outside, a bag with pickles and other things. On going inside thev discovered that the house had iheen entered, and everything turned upside down. Witness went outside again. At the gate he noticed a man coming in from the railway line. He ducked down and came up again just by the gate. He presented two revolvers at witness's face and demanded money. " 1 want money," he said, ''and I will have it." Witness said lie did uot have any; he had spent it all up in the town. The man replied: "1 must have money/ Witness gave him a shilling, una *nen the man placed the revolvers at witness's face, and said he would blow his brains out if he did not give him money. Witness then pulled his pockets, and a shilling dropped on the ground. As he did so the man again threatened to blow witness's brains out, and witness replied: "My dear fellow, I can't give you any." The assailant then turned to witness's wife, and demanded her bag. She gave it to him, and he threw it down, saying it was no good to him. He persisted in his demand for money, and Mrs Kendall replied: "Jack didn't draw his cheque to-night." The man replied: "You little think these things are loaded," and he therewith fired past Mrs. Kendall's face. She fell against the fence screaming, and the man, after staying a couple of seconds, ducked down and ran towards the road. After he got over the railway line witness did not see. him .any more.

li I can identify the man," said witness in reply to the Crown Solicitor. "It was Joe l'owelka. I have known him eight or nine months. He was working at the abattoirs with me." Witness went on to say that accused had part of his face covered with a piece of black silk blouse uiul the other part with a handkerchief. "I could not see his face, but could tell liim by his voice. The night was very clear and not dark. 1 have no doubt as to his identity. 1 could have told him a mile off."

Continuing, witness said the bag found outside the gate contained a duck, about 101b of bacon, a cake, a small loaf of bread, and a part of another loaf. There was also a small leather bag with a bottle of :pickles in it. The articles wore witness's property. Pauline Kendall, wife of the previous witness, said that when they left the house to go to town one window in the front of the house was open top and bottom, and a back one was only open at the top. ' The others were locked. They returned at about a quarter to eleven. Leaving the gate they saw a bag and took it inside. When they got into the house they found everything upside down. Witness sent her husband outside to get a candle, and heard liira talking to someone. She went outside and saw him talking to a masked man. She said: "Oh, Jack, whatever will we do?" and the man said to her: "'mil up." She put her hands up. He was saying to Kendall: "Money I want and money I'll have; if you don't hurry up and part out I'll blow your brains out." The man turned to witness and said: "Money I want and money l'ii have; where's your bag.." Me sent witness into the house for her .<:<g. She brought it out, but when the man saw it he said it wis no use to liuu. He then demanded witness's purse, hne said she didn't have 0112. He then wanted to know where her money w.is, and she replied that she had spent i'. in town. He made further demmcK and then witness said: "It's no standing there arguing the point. We haven't got it. You can't get blood out of a stone, and the quicker you go Ilie better pleased I'll lie.'" The man replied: "Are you aware the re.'o'v;rs I fire loaded?" tapping them together as Jhe spoke. He then fired past witness's I face. She was about a foot from "he 1 revolver when the shot was Urea. vVirness had an idea it was Joe Powe'ka. She had known him about, two mo 'ths, I but had only spoken to him onoe. He | .had a black mask with a handkerchief I tied round his seek.

Powelka pleaded not guilty. Ho reserved his defence and was committed for trial to the Supreme Co'ft. He was also committed for uml or. charges of theft of meat at Long burn. THE TELL-TALE FINGER PRINTS. Palmerston North. Last Night. Finger print evidence was given, and Edwin Dinnie, finger print expert, <>t Wellington, stated" that the finger prints on the glass at both places were identical with Powclka's impressions, bearing many characteristic marks in each oa.se. Po'welka's only sign of discomposure was a slight twitching of his mouth and a continual nervous fingering of tiis moustache. The charge of the murder of Sergeant Ma;;uire will be heard on Fridav.