THE NEW PLYMOUTH HIGHWAYMAN CAUGHT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4476, 21 July 1893, Page 3

THE NEW PLYMOUTH HIGHWAYMAN CAUGHT.

: He Does Some Shooting, j J Charqed With Attempted Murder. i (By Telegraph,—Press Association). New Plymouth, Friday, i Tho highwaymun was caught last , night, about elevon o'clock. Ho ! bailed up the Criterion Hotel, and ] , presented a pistol at Mrs Cottier, 1 InspectorThomsou'sson, Harold, who 1 I was in the hotel, knocked the man ( down, Tho highwayman fired, wound- i i ing young Thomson, but not seriously; I , assistance being at hand the man was held down on the floor, uniil the ; [ police arrived. The man's name is \ i Wallath, and he was dressed in I volunteer uniform, and had two • ! loaded revolvers on him, He will be j i brought up at the Police Court this i morning. i Later, 1 ; Harold Thomson's account of his j encounter with the highwayman is, ( that he was at the side bar of the l Criterion Hotel, when he saw a 1 man attired in a military uniform j opposite the bar who pointed a ref volror at Mrs Cottier, Someone i [ called out " Its the highwayman," : I Mrs Cottier told tbe man to move on . and tho highwayman went along ilio passage, and Thomson ran round the i passage to meet him, and the two i met at tho foot of'the staircase Walj lath then lired his revolvor,- hittint ( Thomson iu ihn left aids, who tbon i rushod tho man, seized him by tbe , throat and a sevoro struggle ensued, ■ I Thomson struck his antagonist, when , | i harles Holmes came to his assist- , ance and the man was thrown on the , floor and held till ihe constable came . and handcuffed him. The man was i dreised in an old volunteer uniform 1 t coat with white striped serge trousers ; and paieut leather crotsbelt with . cartouche box, a blue serge helmet 1 hat with red volunteer feathers | fastened in a zinc plate, and black , goatshair false beard and a mask of 1 blue merino. , Robert Wallath was charged in the . Police Court this morning with firing ] at Thomson with intent to murder , him, and was remanded till next . Friday on the application'of the police. SNo bail was allowed, Inspector i Thomson said that other serious ; s charges would probably be brought ; t against accused. Dr, O'Carrol states that Thomson ( had a couple of leaden pellets in him, ■. but the wound is a comparatively slight ono, but he had a very narrow , escape. It is believed the man fired 1 at Thomson's hearty bu tin the struggle the oharge glance off about five inches. ( r There are four distinct cuts in the i • coat indicating the entrance and exit of two distinct pellets. Tho prisoner 1 r was examined in the lockup and r shows indications of bavine; been , kicked on tbe right leg or struck with j a heavy stick. The prisoner stated t to O'Carroll that he would have made t it hot if it had not been for young ' s Thomson, but there were too many for him. Afterwards the prisoner a appearod to be perfectly cool, and did e not realise bis position,