TRAPPED!

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue XXXVIII, 18 April 1910, Page 3

TRAPPED!

! — • — I POWELKA CAUGHT FEASTING IN A BAM »c > d CONSTABLE'S CLEVER BUSJE ;e le ' \ ARRESTED "WITHOUT USE 01 FIREARMS. - RESTLESS PRISONER s "GIVE ME A DOSE OF POISON ' c ASKS THE POLICE TO SHOOI fj HIM. PALMERSTO.N N., April 18.. The long chase after Powelka ended 1 ia his capture yesterday morning at , Ashurst. Constable Gallagher and a ' Wellington probationer named Oallery, were watching the house of Hanson (Powelka'a brother-in-law) at-4 o'clock in the morning, when they saw a man go across the side street. The man cleared into a paddock, with the con- , stables in pursuit. It was dark, and the pursuers lost the. track, but found ( three bottles, evidently dropped by the • fugitive. The constables procured the assistance of Constables Thompson, of Wanganui, Watts of Ashurst, and Sylvester of Palmerston, and they resumed the search of the paddock, especially a cow shed with a hay loft. Constable Gallagher climbed into the loft with a match, and saw the figure of a man grasping a revolver, with a bottle of stout by his side. The constable called to his mates : " There is nobo-'y here," and descended the ladder again. The constable got his mates outside, as though they tad abandoned the searc'i, and it was deemed inadvisable to tackle Powelka in the dark. One man went to Ashurst for a light, the other remaining in the shelter of the shed. On the messenger returning with a bicycle lamp Const. Thompson carried the light and Const. Gallagher went up the loft on the side where Powelka had been seen and they both pounced on him simultaneously, Thompson holding . up his hands to prevent the revolver being used Powelka * was evidently taken by surprise. He resisted, but was soon overpowered. On being searched another revolver was found on him, also about 40 rounds of ammunition. Powelka had money on him, also small change. He also had eight detonators, four of which were spent. He had a razor, comb and boking-glass and bore a neat appearance and was clean shaven. He was subsequently taken to Palmerston in a motor. He tried to escape on the route and at Palmer - stem paced his cell restlessly. Ho asked for his wife, but she refused to come. When Dr. O'Brien visited him he asked for a dose of poison, and, at Ashurst, asked the police to shoot him, saying: " Thi 9 is hell on earth" Powelka will be brought to Wellington to await trial. PAtMBBSTON NORTH, April 18. Powelka was not greatly communicative yesterday after his recapture. However, he called the gaoler to him and said : "the only thing I am sorry about is that I did not shoot Archie McHae. I went to Shannon after him and there I heard he was here. If ever I getoutagainl will" Prisoner, it is understood, biames Mcßae, who is not known here, for all his troubles, particularly in connection with the thefts. The police, however* do not attach much value to the statement.