CAUGHT IN RANGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1920, Page 11

CAUGHT IN RANGES.

SENSATIONAL ARRESTS MADE. A smart arrest, carried out in tho ranges behind Takapau, v.'as that of two brothers, Archibald Hillson Bergenson and Henry Frederick Bergenson, who had been wanted by the military authorities since 1917. The warrant for tho former was issued on July 12th, 1017, on the grounds that he failed to repprt for medical examination, and for the latter on October 18th for. failing to enter camp. Since 1917 there liave been several attempts to arrest the, men, who we.-e known to be in the ranges, but no success was met with. About two weeks ago H. S. Bergenson was arrested in Woodville and handed over to the military authorities, who were not able to hold him, and he disappeared from tho train while going through the gorge on the way to Palmerston North. Oil Wednesday a force despatched from Napier left Takapau by car. In view of there being a likelihood of resistance the force was armed. The car took them to within five miles of the whare, and tho party walked the remaining distance. As soon as there was sufficient light to distinguish moving objects the party approached the whare and were scented by the dogs. The building was then rushed and piieketed. There was no movement for about, five minutes, and Constable Owen, who knew the men, then called upon them to surrender. There was no response for some time, but a voice recognised as that of Frederick Bergenson finally said '"'all right." Constable Owen then, called on his man to surrender. I-Ie opened the door a few inches, upon which Sergeant Cox covered him with a revolver and instructed him to put his hands up. He did so, and then came out of the hut and was handcuffed. Constables Elston and Reyel entered the' hut and arrested Archibald Bergenson in the bedroom. 1 The contents of the hut included a shot-gun, a, Snider rifle, a repeating rifle and a pea-rifle, with ammunition for all. After the arrest the men stated that they had been driven into the hut by the cold, which prevented them from living in the bush. If they had not had to go into hut they would never have new caught.