SEARCH FOR POWELKA

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1218, 29 August 1911, Page 6

SEARCH FOR POWELKA

NO CLUE OR TRACE, SURMISED TO BE IN WELLINGTON YESTERDAY'S RUMOURS. Surest news about Joseph Powelka is that he is non est as far as tho police are concerned. Thero is neither clue nor trace of him. Some of the shrewdest officers of the force strongly hold to the opinion that ho is still in Wellington, and is being harboured by some associate. This was also the popular theory in town yesterday. Y'esterday the various police offices wero rung up by civilians wishing to convey information, but the theories sent through the telephone, like the story of the small boy who had "met the escapee," were, promptly analysed and set aside. For some time during tho day the police were engaged in sifting a ruinonr that Powelka had been seen at Johnsonville, and this piece of news, it may be said, wore an air of probability, mainly on account of certain circumstantial details supplied. After being followed up, however, it was found to be merely "Dead Sea apples." There was nothing in it. Other vision-mongers had tales to tell, but tho police, though patient with the informants, readily saw that there was also nothing in their stories, and, naturally enough, deprecated the sensational "meetings with"Powelka," which were, even then beginning to be heard and printed. Up at Palmerston and in the Aslihnrst district there was, of course, a deal of talk yesterday about the Polish criminal's latest exploit, nnd the inefficiency of (he Justice Department in failing to hold a prisoner which it had deemed just to sentence to twenty-one years'- imprisonment. This came' in for comment as a very fair sample of State inefficiency all round. Recourse to armed bands of vigilantes was mooted here and there, but, in case of by far tho largest number of citizens, tho opinion was that Powelka is still in Wellington, and, so far, Palmer--| ston is not troubling itself overmuch. The big force-of police (GO) which were out on Sunday have been reduced. On that day the police had an inkling that the gaof-brcaker would be found either in the Gardens or in a certain other part of the city, but since the man has now apparently got beyond the efforts of the first police cordon, it has been deemed useless to keep a'ring of constables round tho city, as was the case on Sunday. Wisely enough, the police keep their own counsel as to the new arrangements, but it may bo taken for granted that. the new arrangements cover the whole, of the Wellington province and beyond. In the next few days the police expect to receive quite a lot of heterogeneous "information." All this, of course, will be sifted—or at least given a thoughthut not necessarily followed up. There will naturally be a correspondingly large lot of "alarums and excursions," and the canard-monger will be at work. One thing about the police arrangements, however, is very sure, and that is that tho water-front of the port is under the closest scrutiny. It is watched for practically every chain both day and night. Only time will be sufficient to show whether the criminal is boing harboured in Wellington or not, and, if that time goes by, without indication of his whereabouts, the water-fronts of all ports will bo kept under closer surveillance than ever. Every effort, in short, will be made to prevent Powelka from repeating tho feat achieved by the horsethief, Jonathan Roberts—getting clear out of tho country.

The "harbouring," if such exists, is apparently not being done in the streets near the gaol for, up till a late hour on Sunday night and also last night, citizens could be observed here and there searching whatever vacant lots were about their premises, either under their houses, or in the yards. But, generally speaking, the problem is so far a puzzler to the police. Powelka escaped in his prison garments—only half of them, in fact—but it will not surprise a good many if he has by this been bedecked in raiment new. There is, as has been hinted, a firm belief that he has a "friend" in the city, or, maybe, more than one.

Powelka is said to bo looking very stout and well now', and weighing between 13 and 14 stone. If that weight is correct, he is much heavier than he was at tho time of his longest escape, which was not lons after a severe illness. One rather circumstantial rumour came yesterday from Lower Hutt. At 8.15 on 'Sunday night the proprietor of a bicyclo shop went into his premises, and as soon as tho light went up a man followed him in and said that he had'missed the last boat to Day.'s Bay, and wanted to hire a bike to got homo on. Tho man was somewhat agitated, so tho story goes, and followed the _ proprietor about closely all the time till ho got the machine. The arrangement was that when the stranger got to Day's Bay ho. was to send the bike back by boat and steamer, and it was to reach Lower Hutt not later than noon yesterday. It had not turned up yesterday evening. The man paid for'the hire of tho bicycle, and left a card purporting to bo that of an employee of a certain firm. The bicyclo proprietor says that ■the man answored the' description of l'owelka, bnt the description of the stranger, given to a Dominion reporter, docs not tally with Powelka's appearance. So far the rumour has not been fathomed.

Other stories aro to tho effect that he entered the railway yard and crawled in between the bogey and the floor of a carriage and so took a cheap trip to the country at tho State's expense. Needless to say, this version of things lacks confirmation, but many stories of this kind were current in the city yesterday. So far no intimation has been made of a reward being offered in connection with Powelka's re-apprehension. PRACTICAL JOKERS. HUMORISTS OF PALMERSTON. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Palmcrston, August 28. Powelka has been the general subject of discuv-);Cn to-day, chiefly by practical jokers. The Mayor received a request to place a largo scroll, which he possesses, and which bears tho words "Welcome to Palmerston," over the entrances to the town. Others forwarded telegrams to "J., Powelka, care of tho Police Department, Wellington," asking them to kindly advise when he might be expected, with a view to extending to him a municipal welcome. There is still seme feeling that Powelka is likely to make for here, and all approaches to the town are being watched, but it would be quite easy to come in by the river beds and. ranges. On the last occasion Powelka came up in a goods truck.