POWELKA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10017, 13 April 1910, Page 5

POWELKA.

SEEN AT BUNUYTHOEPB

MISSED ONCE MORE,

By Telegraph—Press Association.

PALMEkSTON iN., April 12. The Powcika pursuit has shifted to Bunny thorpe.

Between 3 and 4 o'clock this morning a man passing through that township was challenged by the police. He refused to stop. A policeman fired over his head, and the man then dropped the bag ard tied across a paduock. The bag contained cooked food. Half an hear later the safe of a settler named L-irpen as robbed of meat and other food.

The police are now scouring the country in that ujreoiioii.

SERGEANT MAGUIKE'S CONDITION,

Sergeant Magtnre's condition is about the same, no unfavourable sym \ ptoms having set in. HOW QUIRKE WAS SHOT. A QUESTION OF GETTING IN FIRST. PALMERSTON N., April 12. Many varying accounts have been circulated of the shooting of Michael Quirke last night. It seems the whole neighbourhood at Terrace End was thrown into an uproar by the rapid succession of incidents there. Richards, a farmer, was bailed up by a man with a revolver; someone attempted to break into a house occupied by Mrs Shields, threatening to bash the door in, and another woman. Mrs Dovey, of Church Street, was threatened by a man with a revolver. As she came out of the gate of her residence someone confronted her in the darkness, pointed a revolver at her, and said: "I'll put a bullet into you." She fled into the house, and her husband came out calling lbiidly for help. A crowd gathered in tfte street, and commenced to search. As two of the searchers, Sergt. Bowden and W. H. Overton, licensee of <the Terrace End Hotel, made their way along towards Ferguson Street a figure appeared from a vacant section on the same side of the street. The stranger moved along in a crouching attitude. He caught sight of the two men and must have believed Overton was Fowelka, as when he appeared someone called out,"Powelika! Powelka!" ,

The gleaming barrel of the stranger's weanon was seen, and it appeared he was about to fire. An eye witness says it seemed to be a matter of who would get his shot in first.. At any fate Overton fired, the stranger, dropped, and there was a rush to the spot. . To ths horrbr of those Who knew-him, it was found it was Quirke who had been shot down. He was removed to the hospital, but died in an hour or two, The shot had taken effect in the head, which had sustained terrible injuries.

A PLEA FOR ORGANISATION, A TELEGRAM FROM THE minister for justice. MAYOR OF PALMERSTON REQUESTED TO LIMIT VOLUNTARY ASSITaNCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 12. Dr Findlay, Minister of Justice, sent the following telegram to the Mayor of Palmerston North this morning :—"ln order to organise the present search for Powelka, upon the safest and most effective lines. I respectfully suggest to you that you co-operate with the police in limiting the voluntary assistance of civilians to capable and reliable men. Possibly you have already done this, in such event, or should you do so, please accept my thanks." A SATISFACTORY REPLY. By Telegraph—Press Association. PALMERSTON N., April 12. The Mayor of Palmerston N. has replied this evening to the Hon. Dr. Findlay's message;—" Thanks for your wire. I have been in constant touch with the police for some days. We are quite of the opinion that it is inadvisable to call for lurcher voluntary assistance. The number has been considerbly limited to selected men. If necessary I will take further action."