GALLANT AND CLEVER CAPTURE OF THE TWO MEN WHO ESCAPED FROM THE POLICE ON SUNDAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 537, 15 March 1862, Page 6

GALLANT AND CLEVER CAPTURE OF THE TWO MEN WHO ESCAPED FROM THE POLICE ON SUNDAY.

Tu&peka, Monday, March 10. Yesterday morning before 'dawn Mr. Sub-Inspec-tor Morton, accompanied by Detective Johnson, loft for the Waipori, while Sergeant-Major Bracken with Sergeant Trimbill took the direction of Wnitahuna, in order to apprehend the two men who had, on the previous day defied and shot at the police. It fell to the lot of the last-named officers to fall in with tke ruffians; and their capture was effected in a manner that is worthy of all praise. Nothing could be more daring than tlie conduct of Sergcaut-iMajor Bracken : nnd on liis return with the two men crowds of miners congregnted nbout tho camp at Weathereton's, nnd repentedly cheered him. It appears that after scouring the ranges between Weathers ton's and Waitahuna, entering various tents, and examining the scrub on their way, Bracken's attention was di-

rectsrd to a tent in a lonely gully, where two d mm were seed occasionally to stay at. Feeling i sure that at last he was upon their trail, a t circuit was made in order to reach the tent ] unobserved, and thus provide against the chance of j their escaping a second time. Every cautiou was ob- c served, and on reaching within a few hundred yards > of the tent, Bracken and Trimbill dismounted, the sides of the gully being too steep to ride along. FearIng that the tramp of the horses' feet might awaken the inmates, Rracken gave his horse to Trimbill, \ tellin- him to follow as quietly as he could, while he ; rushed the tent and secured whoever was inside, i Knowing the desperate character of the men he had ] t:> deal wiih, and the fact that tlipy weie well armed, ■ this was a most daring action. Had he failed, there is no question but that he would have paid the ■ penalty with hli life. Stealthily creeping towards , the tent, he got within a few janta without being observed, and then with a rush reached it, cut it open, and before they could lay hold of their revolvers or make the slightest lesistance, his pistol was at their heads. Both had loaded revolvers lying by their sides, and one of them made a move ment as though he would reach his, when Bracken told him that if he stirred an inch he would blows his brains out. Cowed by tlilsdetei mined attitude the ruffians kept their positions, venting their ra-jr.; in curses. Trimbill now oame up, and removed all the fire-nrms in the tent, while Bracken covered them with his revolver, j This done, they were seized, securely handcuffed, and brouerht into Wetherstone's. In tho tent there were t found a single and double barrelled gun, both capped and loaded with ball, three revolvers al«o loaded, two of the chnmbers of one of them beinir empty ; evidently this was the pistol from which the shots were tired at the police on the previous day and there had not been sufficient time to reload. There were also found a saddle, bridle, several fancy rugs, and a miscellaneous collection of various kinds of property. There can be no question but that sonw desperate entarprue was intended ; there was a plentiful supply of powder and Jball, the balls recently cast, and various indications, that they cither had, or were about to procure horses. It is exceedingly fortunate that the gang has been broken up and the whole of them captured, as there is no saying to what extent their depredations mij»ht have been extended. The double barrelled gun has since been identified by a minor named Jamer IT thing, as being ]m property, and stolen from him about a month ago. It is anticipated that tlie saddle will also be identified as being the property of r slaughterman, resident between WeUier.-ton s and the Junction. Every praise is due to tlie police for the way in which the whole affair has been managed, and it is only to be hoped that in tho future they will, should occasion offer, be as successful as they have been in the present instance.