THE CAPTURE OF RICHARD HART.

Kumara Times, Issue 1352, 31 January 1881, Page 2

THE CAPTURE OF RICHARD HART.

The Melbbiirne Age says, referring to the capture of Sfeve H art's" brother i-s No little commotion was caused irt Echuca on Friday by the rumor that the troopers had sent for and were 1 on the way to that place .to go in pur l suit of Steve Hart's brother, who bad committed a bold highway roßbery 1 ne;af Sandhurst on Saturday last. It will be_remembered on that evening that a young man, armed with A revolver, stuck up a chinaniari at Kne.wsleyj twelve mileS from Heathcpte, add robbed him of £5 in cash ana a watch and chain. The chinaman was returning with his cart front Sandhurst, where he had l>een delivering[vegetable's at the market. Prior to this ihe SariiS man had ridden through the parish of ' Foollen, situated about tweiity itiiles from Heathcoteon the main Murray and Melbourne Road, and there called ottfc that he was " Steve Hart'd brother aftd would let the people of Heathcote know so before night." The irl question was believed to be one John Smith, but it now turns out that he is Richard Hart, a brother of tbe member o£ the Kelty gang or bushrangers, and was in the act of returning from- Greta to Ferricfe across country wheV he showed himself at Knowsley and Fool* leeii. Since the" outrage at the former locality the poli'ce, have been oh the aler*, for it was believed that the highway robber intended to" Visit Ferrick to see a young niaiHiameci Richard Hart, who was staying with Mr Cunningham of that place. Acting upoii informal " t ion which had been. received thb troopers from Echuca, Gumborrer, Fer l rick, Elmore, and Rochester, have.con : sequently been on alert, and the" plains to West Echuca have been well patrolled during the past week. On. Friday night information was received that the wanted man was making down through Torrumbarry to the Murray at Perricoota, where it was believed he intended to cross into New South Wales and escape. The information proved correct, and all the available police were sent out in pursuit hy Sergeant Hayes of Echuca. Amongst these was foot constable Thomas Corkhill, who was sent out in plain clothes: He" obtained a clue at Tornltubarry oii Friday and followed it up. On Saturday morning he learnt that his man had crossed the Murray at Thompson's Perricoota-. At 8 a.m. that day he cam© up with hia quarry, about two miles from Perrfc coota station, and • there captured hiim Constable Corkhill swam his horse* across the Murray, and found Hart tramping in an easterly direction. Hart said he was going up country, but it i* believed that he was making either tot Deniliquin Railway or for Greta. When arrested, Hart admitted that he had stuck up a chinaman, but said he had only robbed him of £3. He was unarmed when captured, and accounted for the disappearance of his revolver by saying that he had thrown it into the Campasae River at Clare Inn, Borne down. Hart Was brought into Echjica, and placed in the lock-up. Hart ia a repulsive looking young man of the bush larrikin type, aged about twenty; He was dressed in dark tweed check shirt, dirty, and slouch*! black'

nat, with a veil, elastic side. Roots', and worea greasy neckerchief. . He is sullen "and vicious in appearance, has lost seventh teeth>,_ and looks stealthily at his interrogator. He states 'tnat he was tip country when arrested, and that tie crossed into New South "Wales because there were to many police about in Victoria.