CAPTURE OF PLUMMER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 238, 22 August 1872, Page 5

CAPTURE OF PLUMMER.

(From the Evening Star.)

Frederick Plummer was unable to profit by his Auckland experiences. As was the case there, whenever he affected an escape, he was sure to take to acts of petty pilfering which soon put the police on the proper track, and led to his capture. He adopted a similar course here with the same result. The supposition that Plummer got into one of the pavilions at the cricket ground,, and stole a suit of clothes and other property from it, turns out to have been correct ; but that he went into the bush at the Glen, "rigged" himself out there, and stayed there any time was incorrect. While that bush was being carefully surrounded, he was leisurely pursuing his way through the heart of the City ; and while the police and warders were searching almost every nook and corner in Caversham, he was living at his ease in a hotel in town, going out occasionally at night to do a little shoplifting "to keep hiß hand in." These facts confirmed by himself since' his' arrest, were known two or three days ago in some quarters ; but the information given was not clear enough to lead to Plummer's detection. It was, however, sufficient to establish a conviction in the minds of those to whom the information was imparted that he was prowling about Dunedin. A series of till robberies had been going on principally about the Water of Leith ; aud from the manner in which they were effected, and particularly from a circumstance connected with one of them, Plummer was 1 associated with them. But before proceeding to particularise them, we may mention that Plummer appears to have first shown himself in town on Friday evening, when he found his way to White's Queen's Hotel in Albany street, where he inquired for sleeping accommodation, but did not obtain [it. While there he appears to have read the Evening Star which contained an account of his escape, and made some observations upon it. The next day lie took up his quarters at the Rainbow Hotel in Geoige street, where he has lodged up to the. time of his arrest, which occurred at half-past nine o'clock last night. His first: object was to " raise the wind," so as to procure necessary disguises ; and to this end till-robbing commended itself to him. He first visited the shop of Mr M'Dougall, Great King street north ; aud waiting till his opportunity occurred, removed the till with its contents. This he did while Mrs M'Dougall was sitting in a room behind the shop, talking to some' one, who fancied she hearda person entering the shop. Mrs M'Dougall went into the .. ;ghop, and saw no one, but found, the till and its contents gone. On the floor was a piece of cloth, which, on being handed over to the police, was identified as a part of the mate-rial-taken from the pavilion at the cricket ground. It was this little circumstance that gave rise to the belief that it was Plummer who had committed the robbery. What he did was to cover, his boots with the cloth, and so deaden sound, that he was able to enter the bar <of Wain's Royal Hotel on Monday evening and remove a till containing about L 3 without his approach being heard by Mrs Wain, who was sitting in the room adjoining the bar, with the door ajar. In this instance he was considerate enough . to place the till, after removing the money, under a water-butt, to keep dry some papers he left in it — which condescension on his part is said to have elicited the observation from Mr Wain that he felt it a pleasure to be robbed by so considerate a thief. ' From the Prince Alfred Hotel, a little higher up, 30s was recovered from the bar; and a similar attempt at the St. Vincent Hotel was only frustrated by the opportune arrival in the bar of a little girl. Other till .robberies were reported to the police. Having got a supply of the "ready," Plummer seems to have laid in his i stock. He purchased other clothes, got a- supply of tobacco from a tobacconist in Princes street, bought books to while away his time,- and even gathered a collection of photographs of eminent royal personages and operatic celebrities, not forgetting Bismarck. He took a - cottage off Forth place, belonging to Mr P; Thomson, at a rental of L 2 a month,. and was to have taken possession next Monday. ' While at the Rainbow he is said to have been particularly anxious in his enquiries as to what the papers Had to say about him, ♦•well, have they caught Plummer yet," lie would ask the landlord. Hin capture was the result of a pure accident ; and we doubt very much if it would have happened had it not been for his conduct after he was " spotted." Detective Farrell, in company with constable Bain, Town Belt ranger, was proceeding down George street, and noticed right beneath the lamp post close to the Royal George stables, a respectably dressed, low sized, clean shaved man, standing on the edge of the pavement, evidently watching the movements of the people in the bar of the Sussex Hotel on the other side of the steeet. Strange to say, at the moment of

observing this man they were talking of Plummer. They passed on a little, and possibly would not have troubled themselves about him had not Plummer, finding bimMlf observe!, crowed over towards

Morrel's bakery. Then it was that Farrell observed to his companion that he thought the man was Plummer, whereat Bain said "No, but he was good for the till robberies." Farrell followed, and Pluminer before he was aware of his approach, found himself held by one of his wrists and from behind. Farrell told him he wanted him to go over to the Rainbow Hotel, but Plummer demurred. After a slight resistance, he was taken in there and searched by Bain. He stoutly denied being the man wanted, but when Farrell, on the other garments being removed, saw the coarse tinder flannel he wore to be, by is make, that of a prisoner, he felt sure he had the right individual. Plummer said his name was F. 6. Halton ; in proof of his assertion producing a document, purporting to be a receipt by Mr Thomson for rent of ,the cottage ne had taken ; and threatened the detective with all sorts of actions for detaining a person of his respectability. But Farrell was not to be done ; and tpld him that he would have him taken to Mr Caldwell even if he had met him one hundred miles up-country. Whereupon Plummer said, " Where are you taking me to?" "StaighttoHer Majesty's gaol." answered Farrell, and forthwith took him there. » fl^,. savß fl, 8 celerity with which Plummer mouui«a a>a nrisun steps was astonishing ; and once inside tne v *i-~ n walls, he took things very quietly. i>f course he was the man : and was quickly in a cell again. He was nnythins: but communicative after he was received, and the only observation he made was to Farrell, who took him into his coll. It was to the effect that he only knew the detective from description, but he should have known him anywhere ; and Farrell was polite enough to return the compliment. Most of the clothing Plummer wore when arrested was new. On him were found balf-a-sove-reign, and LI 7s lid in silver and coppers ; a fur-covered cigar case, six portmonnaies, a looking-glass, knife, match-box, a meerschaum pipe (stolen from the St Vincent Hotel), a mouthpiece, and last night's edition of the Evening Star. The portmonnaies have been identified by Mr E. Nathan, Princes street, as his property. He did not miss them until this morning, but Plummer must have stolen them a little after dusk last evening, when the shop was left for a few moments.