EXCITING CHASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1922, Page 4

EXCITING CHASE.

POLICE AFTER FUGITIVES MOTOR-CAR HUNT AT NIGHT. I THREE MEN CAPTURED. An editing chase after three suspected burglars took place between Normanby and Cardiff between the hours of eight o’clock on Thursday morning and the early hours of yesterday morning, and three men have been arrested in consequence. Constable Pidgeon, of Normanby, received word on Thursday to the ■effect that three suspicious men were in the vicinity of Te .Roti, and that Messrs. Gibson and Cleaver’s houses had been visited. An entry to these houses was not effected owing to there being someone at home in each instance. However, Mr. Powell’s house was entered later and completely ransacked. It appears that in this case the occupiers were at a neighborihg farm, but a man wae asleep in a tent quite close to the’ house and was not awakened by the burglars, who apparently kept a close watch over him. Mr. Powell, when interviewed, was unable to state exactly what had been taken from his house, he having left with the. police immediately on his return. The culprits evidently did a smart piece of evasion and were apparently fleet of foot, having reached Cardiff in the early hours of the afternoon. Constable Pidgeon related that he was unable to organise parties for some considerable time, owing to the absence of a telephone in the vicinity. On reaching Eltham it was learned that the men had passed through, and further parties with motor-cars gave chase. At Ngaere it was gathered that they had gone up the Climie Road, and Sergeant’ Dale and Mr. Lester, in Mr. J. Burke’s car, went after them. Constable Townsend, who was being driven by Mr. Best, followed, but unfortunately did not reach Cardiff owing to the motor breaking down. THE MEN SIGHTED. Near Cardiff the three men were -sighted and chase was given, the culprits dividing and going in different directions. Sergeant Dale secured his man, Mr. Lester also catching liis, but he was apparently outdone by superior strength. In the meantime Mr. Burke was chasing his man, when Mr. Burke tripped and fell. The assailant was thus afforded a splendid opportunity to get away into the bush, and it being dark at this time the search was given up. At daybreak this morning Sergeant Dale arrested this man in the Cardiff church, and he will be charged with breaking and entering. Darkness had come on when the chase was commenced .at Stratford on Thursday night, and the rain which fell in torrents also hampered operations. After the escape at Cardiff of the two fugitives whom the civilians failed to arrest, the chase was given up temporarily. Sergeant Dale returned to Cardiff at four o’clock, and thinking the escapees might have chosen the church for a hiding place, he proceeded to investigate. Peering inside he saw some rain-sodden garments hanging up, and entering cautiously effected the arrest of a man, who had stripped off his clothes, evidently to dry them, and wrapped himself up in curtains taken from the pulpit. After the arrested man taken into custody efforts were made to trace the third man, and he was arrested at Midhirst. He had evidently discarded his boots, which he was seen carrying earlier in the chase. NAMES OF THE MEN. The names of the three men are Archibald R. J. McKay, Leonard T. Terrell, and John A. Gemmei. McKay was the first to be taken into custody, Gemmell was arrested by Sergeant Dale at four o’clock yesterday morning, and Terrell was secured at ten o’clock yesterday morning. They are jointly charged “that on Mareh 2 they did steal from the dwelling of Arthur Powell, at Normanby, a money-box, safety razor and a pair of field glasses; also that at Stratford on the same date they committed the theft of £2 1(K from the dwelling of a man named Newall.” The accused were brought before the court at Stratford yesterday and remanded to appear on Mareh 9. Further remands to Hawera and Wanganui will probably be applied for, as it is stated that other charges are pending against tl>e men. A man named Moffitt, who is believed to be an accomplice of the gang, has been arrested at Wanganui. The informations in all cases concern alleged thefts from dwellings.