FUGITIVE STILL. At LARGE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 791, 14 April 1910, Page 6

FUGITIVE STILL. At LARGE.

<By Tdeeraph.-Ssacial Correspondent.) Palmerston North, April 13. Palmerston has quite got back to its normal state to-day, even tho police station being quite deserted. , Notwithstanding the scare we have been having, large numbers of, people went to Awapuni to the races. ' / It is generally believed fiat Powelka has taken himself away to the country, wd his absence from the town is greatly appreciated. A section of the Dominion Scouts arrived here from Wellington yesterday afternoon, and immediately set to work. It seems 'ridiculous that these men should have come here to scour country totally unknown to them* when scores 3f mounted riflemen could have been obtained for the asking—men who know Bvery inch of. the country, and could ;et to any given point at very short notice. . However, the search for Powelka appears now to be conducted in a more systematic, manner, although it is to be hoped we will hear no more experiences 3f letting a man get out of .reach before shallenging - him. • Seen Near Bunnythorpe. The last news we have of the fugitive is> that he was seen beyond Bunnythorpe a.little after' diylight this morning, when i horseman disturbed him sleeping in some scrub. He at once escaped into the bush. The police were made acquainted irith the circumstances, and ■ parties nave, scoured the country.' . If it should prove to be Powelka, he is. pretty cer. tain to be caught, especially if he gets into •' country that ho is not acquainted irith... J Nearly the whole of tho police force iave been sent to that' district, only sufficient to properly guard the town being: kept here. Sympathy. The verdict of the Coroner in collection with the death' of Michael Juirke is approved in all quarters. Very ;r'eat sympathy is felt for' the family in ;heir bereavement, aid the same is exanded to Mr. Overton in the' unfortunate position, in which-he found himself/ as le is highly esteemed':, in the town. He ras fully convinced that ; he was conronted by Powelka, whom ho also beloved was taking aim at him. Mr. )verton's bearing at the inquiry showed hat he greatly felt the position. ■, The hat which Michael Quirke wore it the time he was shot was just'an rdinary black hard-hitter. In the front, ibout two inches above the band;' is a mall hole, where the bullet entered, riuch would, perhaps, admit a pencil, rat the back of the-hat,, for-a space f a diameter of about four inches, was orn to pieces, showing most conclusively hat the bullet inust : have) spread greatly. "He'» Mine," The people of Palmerston will be gratiied to know that at the inquiry there ras not a single word to show that anyne, among the orowd used the. words: 'He's mine," when the unfortunate feldw fell fatally wounded.' How the .relort • got started it is difficult to surnise, and it would indeed be deplorable f'wo had in our midst anyone who rould use such words under the circumtances, even if it ■ had been proved to le Powelka. In his evidenco at the inquiry aa f to he circumstances leading to the death f Michael Quirke to-day,, .Constable banner, of Pahiatua, said he had tried o dissuade deceased, from coming over o-Palmerston to help in the pursuit of towelka. One reason be gave the contable for his desire to continue his assistance was that he was an old schoolmate and chum of Sergeant "Maguire, nd wished to help run down the man rho had shot his friend. The poor felow had helped the police whilst Powelka ras in the Pahiatua district, and bis ssistance was ■ greatly, appreciated. It ppears, too, that Sergeant Bowden lent lim the revolver which he carried.

AGAIN SEEN MEAR BUNNYTHORFE. THE DOMINION SCOUTS. HOW THEY GOT TO THE FRONT.