THE TIMARU TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1920, Page 4

THE TIMARU TRAGEDY.

ESCAPED CRIMINAL ARRESTED. CHARGED WITH THE MURDER. CAPTURED AFTER SHOOTING FEAT, By Telegraph.—Pieaa Association. Christehurch, Last Night. Reginald Matthews, the escaped pris. oner, who is known to be at large armed, was seen in the city this morning and a very hot chase by the police in the vicinity of George Street ended il failure. Matthews slipped away and il still at large. The Star states the police are verj keen on the. search for Matthews, and are investigating the possibility of hit connection with the Timaru tragedy. Christehurch, Later. Matthews was recaptured on tht Lyttelton wharf this evening, after < sensational shooting affray with th< polke. Matthews was sentenced on Augu»| 25, mill, to nine months' imprisonmenl on a charge of indecent exposure, bu) ' escaped from Lyttejton gaol on Septem ber 12, 1919. Nothing had been seel or heard of him till a fortnight ago, th« general belief in police circles being thai he had gone down in the Tainui.' How< ever, two weeks ago he was noticijd il the public gardens, and ft gardener who" was a witness against him in the CourJ proceedings wont to apprehend him. Matthews, it is alleged, presented a revolver at him, and made good-his escape, Matthews was brought to Christ t church to-night, and formerly charged, v » "that on October 27, 1820, at Timaru, hj« did murder one Clarence Edwfw , „ wfag" staff." .

SENSATIONAL CAPTUBfe MANY SHOTS FIRED. ONE CONSTABLE WOUNDED. Ohristchurclv, Last Night. The arrest of Matthews at Lyttelton was a most sensational affair. At (1.45 p.m. a party of police boarded the Maori, and were inspecting «om< luggags in a cabin at the top of' tht steerage eompanionway, when Ma'tthgwi entered. Detective Blckerdike took * step towards him, but Matthewa drop< pad his hand to his hip pocket, and ran out, with the police in pursuit. After a lively chase along various alleyways, the fugitive raced down the steerage gangway to the wliarf, brandishing a revolver. He doubled round some trucks, and then set off up between a double row of trucks. Constable Tenipletbn dived at him, and In a a shot was fired, Conatabb. Templcton receiving a bullet in th« knee. He clung to Matthfews, and witl: the assistance of Constable Heslop held him till reinforcements arrived, and hi whs secured and handcuffed. Besides the shot fired by Matthews, Deteotivo Bickerdike fired twice, and Matthews once or twice, on the deck pJ the Maori, wbile Senior-Sergeant Jack* '' sou, who caught a glimpse of the fusi« live, also took aim,, but his revolvii missed fire. Constable Templeton it now in hospital. His wound ia .not serious, the bullet missing the knee <m It is stated that Matthews, since mt osi-apo from Lyttelton gaol, has been following his calling of a seaman. H« signed off the Waipori on October 6. H« had been going under the name ot Reginald Irwin, which is said to be tin name under which he secured hl» pai« sage in the Maori. A man who is almost the double q( Matthews was apprehended at Lyttelfou yesterday morning, but was able to establish his identity and was released.