A LONG CHASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 199, 23 August 1926, Page 10

A LONG CHASE.

DETECTIVE WHO FLED.

WANTED ON CONSPIRACY CHARGE

For the past 15 months the New South Wales police have been engaged in a search for one of their former membere, ex-Detective Fowler, who disappeard after a warrant had been issued for his arrest in connection with an alleged conspiracy with other detectives to obtain a large sum of money from Terence O'Callajhan.

The former detective has been traced to a remote place in New South Wales, and, finally, by devious ways, to West Ax» tralia, where further trace of him ha% for the moment, been lost.

A short time after Fowler's disappearance serious floods occurred in New South Wales, and a mail bag which was lost was picked up in the flood area in a rather remote part of the State. In the bag was found a letter from Fowler to his wife, who lives at Hawthorn. The letter, which was handed to the New South Wales police, was sent to Melbourne, where the handwriting was identified as that of Fowler's.

The police authorities decided to send ■Senior Detective Deeley. of the gaming branch, who was then a senior constable, in pursuit of Fowler. Deeley. who was away in the backbloeks of New South Wales for several months, picked up Fowler's tracks, but never succeeded in capturing him. He followed him right up to tie Queensland border, where all trace of him was lost. At one farm house at which. Deeley called he found a vacant bed practically warm. It was ascertained that Fowler had slept in it, and had gone on about three o'clock in the morning. Fowler's plan was to work a day or two on a sheep station, and move on so as to avoid detection. He is an expert bushman.

The theory is that Fowler probably disappeared with the connivance of the companions, as it was feared that if he stood his trial evidence would probably be given that it was he who changed two of Terence OTallashan's £100 notes ac a certain bank in North Melbourne, and the evidence of conspiracy against all the men would be rather conclusive.

It is not thought that Fowler will give himself up until at least one of the principal witnesses in the conspiracy trial has died, or left the country.