CAPTURE OF A BURGLAR

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 184, 16 September 1897, Page 2

CAPTURE OF A BURGLAR

On" Tuesday Detective Muddcrn and Constable Stanyer proceeded to Auckland by train, having in charge a man named Thomas Whyte with several aliases, who is charged with having committed a burglary at Messrs Smith and Caughey's warehouse, Auckland, on the 26th of last month. A detective came on the scene before he had removed his booty, but he managed to elude capture in the meantime. Information having reached Inspector Hickson that the man was in the King Country, he despatched Detective Maddcrn, who knew the man, to effect his capture. He waa joined at Tc Kuiti by Constables Stanyer, of Otorohanga, Cahill, of Hamilton, and Jones, of Te Awamutu. When the train arrived at Te Kuiti Whyte was standing at the door of a boarding-house, but on heating that three of the polict force were there he ran through the house and escaped by the back door, ho got into the fern and trace of him was lost for the time. It was reported that a robbery had been committed at a butcher's shop at the tunnel, the police very naturally concluded that their man was the culprit and was heading for Taranaki. A young settler named Meredith girded the party, who, having procured horses, proceeded to Kawakawa, 15 miles distant. When five miles on the road they discovered the print of a boot with part of the sola cut off. Owing to the ground being hard the party lost trace oi Whyte tor four miles, but they learned from the Maoris that a man had passed through their settlement. A little further on they struck the trail again going on to a bye track. The party eventually reached Te Keura, a Maori settle ment, where the Maoris lent them fresh horses. A fog came on, but Meredith pointed out that there was smoKe rising from the track. Shortly afterwards they came up with the man who was camped on the bank of the river. On noticing their approach he jumped in and Maddern followed. Both were taken by the current to an island. Stanyer and Meredith crossed the horses at the upper ford, so cut off retreat by the opposite bank. Whyte slipped off tl e island and was carried down the river for some distance, and was eventually captured standing up to his neck in water and io a very exhausted condition. (by telegraph—own correspondent). Auckland, Last Night. Thomas Whyte, the youug man arrested in the King Country hist Monday by Detective Madden and Constable Stranycr after an exciting chase, was brought before the Police Court, to-day. Whyte (who has several aliases) was charged with breaking and entering Messrs Smith and Caughey's drapery premises, Queen-street, on August 113th, and stealing tome shirts, umbrellas, socks and other articles, of the total value of £') 10s. In addition to this charge, upon which the prisoner was arrested, a second charge has been preferred, viz., breaking and entering Messrs Smith and Caughey's premises on the 15th of last month and stealing two overcoats, valued at £4. Sergeant Clarke, representing the police, asked that both cases be remanded for a week, and they were aecordmgiy adjourned till next Wednesday. "