THE TARANAKI HIGHWAYMAN.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 18, 21 July 1893, Page 2

THE TARANAKI HIGHWAYMAN.

» CAPTURED IN NEW PLYMOUTH. INSPECTOR THOMSON'S SON "WODNDED. IBy TRLEanAPE. i i united tress association.! New Plthouth, This Dat. Tho highwayman was caught last night at about 11 o'clock. He bailed np tbo Criterion Hotel, and prosented a pistol at Mrs. Cottier. Inspector Thomson's son Harold, who was in tho hotel, knocked the man down. The highwayman fired, wounding young Thomson in tho side, but not horionsly. Assistance being at hand, tho man was held down on the floor t'll the police arrived. Tho man's name is Wallath, and he was dressed in volunteer uniform, and had two revolvers loaded. ! Harold Thomson's account of his encounter with tho highwayman i 3i 3 that he was at the side-bar of the Criterion Hotel and saw a man in a military uniform at the opposite bar, who pointed a revolver at Mrs. Cottier. Someono called out " It's the highwayman," and Mrs. Cottier told the man to move on. Tho highwayman went along tho passage, and Thomson ran round the passage to meet him. The two met at tho foot of the staircase Wallath tbon firod his revolver, hitting Thomson on tho left side. Thomson then rushed tho man, and seized him by the throat, and a severe straggle ensued. Thomson struck his antagonist, when Charles Holmes came to his assistance, and tho man was thrown on the floor and held there till a constable came and handcuffed him. The man had on an old volunteer uniform coat, white striped sorgo Ifousers, a patent leather crossbele, with cartouche-box, a blue Berge holmet with a red volunteer featber fastened in a zinc plate, a black goat'shair false board, and a mask of blue merino. Wallath's weapon was a five-chamboi-ed revolver, and four of the chambers were loaded and capped. He had another rcvolvor in his belt. Tho man made a desperate struggle, and had he not been disarmed, might have used tho revolver agtin. Mrs. Cottier says the highwayman came in and prosented a revolver at her, and said, "Bail up." She, thinking it was a joke, smilod and said, " Pass on " She thought ft was a volnnteor in uniform having " a lark," and did not feel in the least frightened. Dr. O'Carroll states that Thompson had a couplo of leaden pellets sent through him. Tho wound is a comparatively slight one, bnt it was a very narrow escape. He examined the prisoner in the lock-up, and found indicate ns of his having been kicked on tho right leg or strnck with a heavy stiok. Prisoner stated to Dr. O'Carroll that he would have made it hot if it had not been for young Thomson, and that there wero too many for him aftorwaids. PRISONER BEFORE THE COURT. Eobort W.Ulath was chargod this morning at tho Police Court with having fired at Harold Thomson, with intent thereby to kill and murder him. Inspector Thomson applied for a remand, mid said that probably other serious charges would bo brought against the accused. Prisonor was remanded till next Friday, no bail being allowed.