ARREST OF THE NEW PLYMOUTH HIGHWAYMAN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2532, 22 July 1893, Page 3

ARREST OF THE NEW PLYMOUTH HIGHWAYMAN.

“ The New Plymouth highwayman ” was caught on Thursday night. At about 11 o’clock, he bailed up the Criterion Hotel and presented a pistol at Mrs Cottier, the landlady. Inspector Thomson’s sou Harold, who was in the hotel, knocked the man down, and the highwayman fired wounding young Thomson in the side; but not seriously. Assistance beiug at hand the man was held down on the fioor till the police arrived. The man’s name is Wallath, and he was dressed in volunteer uniform and had two revolvers. Harold Thompson’s account of his encounter with the highwayman is that he was at the side bar of the Criterion Hotel when he saw a man in military uniform opposite, who pointed a revolver at Mrs Cottier. Someone called out “ It’s the highwayman,” and Mrs Cottier told the man to move on. The highwayman went along the passage and Thomson ran round to meet him, and the two met at the foot of the staircase. Wallath then fired his revolver, hitting Thompson in the left side. Thompson then rushed at the man, seized him by the throat and a severe struggle ensued. Charles Holmes came to Thompson’s assistance, and the man was thrown on the floor and held there till a constable came and handcuffed him. The man had on an old volunteer uniform coat, white striped serge trousers, patent leather cossbelt with cartouche box, blue serge helmet hat with red volunteer feather in a zinc plate, a black goat’s hair false beard, and a mask of blue merino. Charles Holmes gives the following account of the highway affair. He was at the side bar, and saw the highwayman at the opposite bar. He was dressed in officers uniform, and had a mask on his face. The man went up the passage, and Mr Thompson ran to meet him. Holmes followed Thompson, who tackled the highwayman, who fired as soon as Thompson rushed at him, and Holmes went to Thompsons’s assistance, and caught hold of the revolver the highwayman had in his hand. It was a five chambered revolver, and four of the chambers were loaded and capped when he got hold of it. He had another revolver in his belt. In the struggle the whole of them fell downbat they held the man till he was hand, cuffed by the policeman. He made a desperate struggle, and had he not been disarmed he might have used the revolver again. Mrs Cottier, in her account of the highwayman affair, says she was standing at the bar talking to Mr Simmons when the highwayman came in. He presented a revolver at her, and said, “ Bail up.” She thought it was a joke. She smiled, aud said, “ Pass on,” thinking he was a volunteer in uniform having a “ lark.” She did not feel in the least frightend. He passed out, and shorly afterwards she heard a shot fired, and calls for help. Someone said “ I believe Mrs Cottier is shot.” She then went to the staircase, and saw the highwayman on the floor being field down, He appeared to have fainted, and she got some water to revive him. Mr Cottier was in bod at the time, not being very well. Dr O’Carroll states that Thompson had too leadpn pellets in him. The wound is comparatively a slight one, but it was a very narrow escape. He believes he must have fired at Thompson’s heart, but in the struggle the charges glanced off about five inches. There are four distinct cuts in Thompson’s qoat indicating the entrance and exit of two distinct pellets. He examined the prisoner in the lock-up. He showed indications of having been knocked on the right leg, or struck with a heavy stick. The prisoner stated to Dr O’Carroll that he would have made it hot if it had not been for young Thompson, and that there were too many for him. Afterwards prisoner appeared to be perfectly cool and did not realise his position. Yesterday morning Robert Wallath was charged before the Police Court with firing at Mr Harold Thompson with intent thereby to kill and murder him. Inspector Thompson applied for a remand, as the man had only been arrested the previous night. He said that probably other serious charges would be brought against him. Prisoner was remanded till next Friday, no bail being allowed.