STILL AT LARGE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, Issue LVII, 12 April 1910, Page 5

STILL AT LARGE.

POWELKA'S EXTRAORDINARY MOVEMENTS.

PALMERSTON N., April 11. The toivn continues in an exhausting condition of unrest, and the public volunteers in all directions to assist in the searches, and motors the country police from point to point. At about 6.50 p.m., Alfred Richards, a farmer, of Stony Creek, was driving along East street, on the eastern side of the borough, towards Ferguson street, the scene of last night's searches, when A MAN WITH A REVOLVER

in each hand sprang in his cart and demanded food. ■ He rummaged about among the goods in the cart, and finally seized the driver by the throat, while with one revolver of the two he had he impressed upon Richards that he must not reveal the incident. The man failed to find food. Richards, who had frequently had dealings with Powelka at the abattoirs and butchers' shops, is positive that his assailant was Powelka, who appeared terrified, and as if his mind was unhinged. He presently jumped down from the cart at a dark part of the road, and Richards drove on till he got out of sight and among the lights, when he gave the alarm. "I AM POWELKA."

At Baldwin's Avenue, the next street from East street, and also crossing Ferguson street, the scene of last night's sonsations, Mr M. E. Leybourne, the local commission agent of Snow and Co., was riding along the street^ when ho met a man with a revolver in front of Mr Percy Baldwin's residence. Leybourne said to him: "Hello, are you scouting, too?" The man replied, "Yes." Leybourno said: "Are you looking for Powelka?" The man replied: "I- am Powelka. Not another word, or you are a dead man." He pressed the revolver to Leybourne's forehead and presently walked away.

OBTAINS FOOD FROM A RESTAURANT.

Another incident to-night was the appearance of a grey-ovorcoated, hungrylooking man in Santo's 'restaurant, in thY middle of the Square, at about 8 o'clock, who demanded coffee and flounder. The kitchenman believed he was Powelka, and opportunity was taken to ring up the police, but the man very rapidly consumed tho food and left without paying before th© police arrived. Tho town is in a ferment, and parties are being despatched in all directions. OLD LADY AND CHILD ACCOSTED.

At about 6.40 o'clock a man with two' revolvers was seen in Church street, "still in the- same vicinity as the East street and other incidents were enacted. He accosted an old lady and child, and levelled revolvers at thorn, but let them pass on.

INSPECTOR WILSON TAKES CHARGE.

• Inspector # Wilson, in charge of the Wangamii district, took charge of the search operations to-day.