A DESPERATE CRIMINAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10010, 5 April 1910, Page 5

A DESPERATE CRIMINAL.

POWELKA BURGLARISES A ) COTTAGE. "ROBBERY UNDER ARMS." A WOMAN'S NARROW ESCAPE. By Telegraph—Press Association. PALMERSTON N., April 4. Mr and Mrs J. Kendall, occupants of a cottage at Awapuni, near Palmerston North, when returning home on Saturday from town, noticed a bag just outside their gate. Investigations showed" that it contained eral comestibles, which they recognised as previously forming part of j their larder. They went into the | house, and found it in complete disorder, it being quite apparent that it had been searched for money. Boxes thrown open and the contents strewn about the place. The [ dairv had been visited, and cream, I milk, and a loaf of bread, cake and other eatables were demolished. They returned to the road and pursued investigation, and whilst at the i gate Kendall saw a man approaching along the road, and at once recognised him as Powelka. The latter presented a revolver and asked for money. Kendall said he hadn't any, and the man with the gun pointed out in forcible tones that he was "not playing the robber." The . man was picturesquely masked with a piece of torn blouse belonging to Mrs Kendall, whilst a handkerchief was tied over the lower part of his face. Powelka told Kendall not to labour under a misapprehension that tne revolver was not loaded, and Kendall, thinking the matter serious enough, turned out his pockets, Is being the result. His wife at this stage returned, and Powelka, disappointed with the amount received from Kendall transferred his attention to Mrs Kendall and demanded her purse. She produced a small bag from the house, which had alreadv been the subject of Powelka's investigations. The latter became furious when he saw the bag. "You evidently think these '

\ are not loaded," he &aid, atid he held I the revolver close to tfce lady's head and fired. Mrs KendalJ faiftted at once. At this stage of the proceeding a cyclist appeared on the scene, and Powelka, of whose identity Kendall says there can be no doubt, left, disappearing quickly in the darkness. The police are scouring the country for him, but so far he has not been captured, although some M.-r traces of him have been founcK-w nearer town. FURTHER PARTICULARS. "YOU THINK THESS ARE NOT LOADED." BULLET BRUSHES MRS KENDALL'S CHtSEK.

The following is taken from the "Manawatu Standard,"' of yesterday : "Did you recognise him?" asked our reporter, who was eliciting information from the victim of the nocturnal visit. "I did, and I said to myself as he came along: 'By gad, here conies Joe Powelka for a feed!' I knew Powelka well; worked with h ; m at the abattoirs for a long time. When; he saw me at the gate," continued Mr Ken ■ dall, "he crouched down and then turned and faced me. He had a revolver in each land, and he said: 'Your money, you ! It's your money I want!" Mr Kendal] replied that he didn't fcsve any money, and the man thsn became more threatening than ever. "You think I'm playir.g with you, do you?' he id in a hissing tone, which is a peculiarity of Powelka's utterance. "You don't think they's loaded, eh?" And with that he commenced to flourish his weapons in front of his victim's ejes. Then he plaj fully stroked Mr Kendall's cheeks with tl,e cold steel, and the latter remarked to our reporter: "I was always under the impression that I suffered from heart disease, but I'm satisfied now I don't, because I didn't drop dead!" Mr Kendall, thinking matters somewhat more serious than he had anticipated, began now to tarn out his pockets, the result being that he produced a shilling, and handed it over. His wife, hearing the conversation, came out, a'nd then their ter-j rifying visitor transferred his attentions to the lady. He demanded hec purse, with dreadful threats, and she immediately returned to the house and producd a little black bag/: As the robber had already been through that particular bag and found nothing in it he became furious and made more violent threats.

"You'think those are not loaded, do you?" he said again, and holding one of the revolvers withing a foot of the lady's head he fired. The bullet went so close to her head that Mrs Kendall could feel it brushing past her chetk. She very naturally fainted. At this juncture, assistanca came in an unexpected fashion. .The flashing of a bike lau.p some, distance away was seen by the robber, who seemed to think it was time to get.' He therefore crouched down, and crept along the fence, got into the drain that runs between the old and the new road and disappeared, - Mr Kendall, thinking his wife was hurt, called to the cyclist, who came in. He immediately went for assistance to the neighbours, and then rode up to inform the police of the circumstances. Asked about the general appearance of his visitor Mr Kendall said that for some time he did not notice what he was wearing. He was too busy "studying the guns! However, 1 when he had more leisure, he saw that Powelka had a mask made of black cloth drawn over his eyes, and covering the upper half of his face/ The lower half was covered by a neckerchief, so that the man's features were unrecognisable. He wore a cap and an old grey overcoat, and also had a broad belt round his waist. "I only lost six shillings altogether," said the victim of the raid, "but my wife's black siik blouse was torn to<pieces, and it was part of that which was round Powelka's head for a maski' : Mr Kendall, in reply to another question, stated that PowelKa knevr very well that he got paid on a Saturday night, for when they had worked together at the abattoirs they had often broken then cheques together of a Saturday in town. He also kuew that Mr and Mrs Kendall lived alone, and they would be easy quarry for a person with two revolvers.

! POLICE SCOURING THE COUN- ! , TRY. By Telegraph—Press Association. PALMERSTON N,, April 4. Although the police are scouring the country day and night for the perpetrator of the outrage on the Foxton line on Saturday and also for the escapee, Joseph Powelka, there is as yet nothing 'further to report in the matter. It is generally considered that Powelka was the author of Saturday's robbery under arms, and that he hides by day and robs houses by night for sustainance.