HIGHWAY ROBBERY AT MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4966, 4 March 1895, Page 2

HIGHWAY ROBBERY AT MASTERTON.

THE THIEF STILL AT LARGE.

A case of hand-bag-snatching occurred on Saturday night between the two Waipoua Bridges, which, although unattemled with much profit to the thief, proves that an undesirable class of men continue to congregate in and about this town. II appears that Mrs Reynolds, who resides on Lansdowne, was returning home about ten o'clock on Saturday night and when between the bridges, a man snatched her hand bag, leaving the handle in her baud and made off. The police were ini formed, aud on Sunday evening wentup to a man answering the description given by Mrs lieynolds, and who is camped in a tent between the bridges. On going up to speak to the man, who was cutting firewood with a butchers' knife, he at once raised the weapon to strike the Constable, and on the lalter's stepping aside to evade the blow, the thief who by this means had given evidence of his guilt-bolted up the river, and although closely chased by the Constable and others, was lost sight of in some bush further up the river. On searching his tent tho stolen bug was found, and together with the tent and all belongings was taken charge of by the police. The man was seen about seven o'clock this morning, near the place where he disappeared last night, but so far has not been captured. It appears the man has been about town for a fortnight, and has often been sec making his way up the river by Adams' busli and the Eailway bridge, and probably is one of those who it is now reported assisted to assault and rob a girl near the same place about a week ago.