TO-DAY'S DOINGS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9187, Issue XLI, 11 April 1910, Page 5

TO-DAY'S DOINGS.

POWELKA REPORTED, BUT NOT ■ CAPTURED. I VARIOUS RUMOURS. Palmerston had almost suspended business this morning to discuss last night's untoward happenings. Groups of men were congregated at every available corner, and conjectures, suggestions, criticisms, denunciations, and fears ad lib. were flying round. But with them all Joseph Powelka- is still at large. The police station has been kept busy with anxious ■ enquirers who h&ve more regard for the satisfaction of their own curiosity than the assistance they might render those who are trying to find the missing man. A big crowd assembled round the station during lunch hour discussing matters and eliciting information, while one* or tfl'o of the more- facetious started rumours which soon came to the ears of some credulous beings and were handed on. as the whole truth and nothing but the truth. From early morning there have been private citizens and a. number of policemen on the search around the outskirts of the town, and every availabio nook and corner was peered into. It is now quite evident that Powelka did not waste any time after last night's occurrence. Immediately the shooting occurred he must have made straight over the front fence and through Milverton's paddock. When Mr Hampton rushed into Mr Stockwell's house to inform the police of the struggle there seemed to be no one guarding the way out via Ferguson street. Tho rumours coming in later confirmed this conjecture, and it would seem that the fugitive has been dodging about the outskirts of the town all morning. A report was telephoned to tho police from the Milk Pasteurising Factory at Hokowhitu that Powelka was seen to cross the paddock next Mr J. B. Pascal's residence and go through the lagoon and on towards Fitzhcrbert street. The police went round the paddock in a motor car, but saw no sign of anyone : and one or two enthusiastic civilians .went through the paddock, but were also disappointed. Still another rumour had it that tho missing man was seen in tho Esplanade at about the samp time, while further reports came from' Terrace End that he had been prowlirig about there. All these rumours produced nothing. Again a resident found a sus-picious-looking visitor near his house in Ferguson street East just before midday. A contingent .of policemen and civilians beat the hedges and adjacent properties, but were again disappointed. In connection with yesterday's proceedings a, plucky incident is reported about a very small boy. He is a son of Mr Arthur Perrin, and knew Powelka. Hβ sighted tho man near Boundary road yesterday afternoon, and immediately got on to his tracks. Unfortunately for the boy the first person he met was unsympathetic and refused to carry the news to the police station. Tho boy continued to follow his trail, and after getting ae far as tho flour mill he lost sight of his man. Ho then reported personally to the police. All the public institutions of the town are being watched, including the racecourse, whero Mr J. M. Johnston has placed a guard over the grandstand in view of the danger from fire. Major Dunk considers that the matter is now sufficiently serious for tho formation of a Vigilance Committee, composed of about 25 special constables who know tho district thoroughly. Subsequently the Mayor was seen on the same matter and he states that he has been in communication with the "police authorities for some days concerning this matter, but it was not deemed advisable to take active steps up till now, but the Mayor has arranged a further interview with the police to-day. The great excitement that prevails in town in connection with tho whole affair was fully demonstrated this morning. Shortly after noon a couple of prisoners were taken to tho police station in a cab. The report was soon spread that Powelka had been captured and an excited body of people soon made its way to the, station full of the importance of their erroneous information. Even when it became known that Powelka was still at large the crowd waited for something else equally interesting to turn up. This afternoon it is quite probable that a, force of volunteers will take up the search under the local .military officers. It is understood no detailed plan of action has been decided upon, and in any case it would be inadvisable to publish them. The Permanent Artillery men did not arrive by the mid-day train to-day, but .it is quite probable they will be up by the Auckland express. In this connection Major Dunk is of opinion that a strong squad of local special constables would bo much more effective than parties of permanent militia and constables unacquainted either with the town or its immediate district. [ During the morning a party, under tho leadership of Mr S. Hunt, searched the whole of the Hokowhitu lagoons, working up towards Terrace End, but they also failed to discover any trace of Powelka. Inspector Wilson arrived in Palmerston to-da3' and will see the search out. Inspector Ellison will also arrive from Wellington to-day to assist in the search operations. At 1.45 p.m. Sergt. Bowdon. Constables Woods and McLeod, accompanied 'by Adjt. Palmer, Troopers Jickell and Robert, proceeded to Hereford street, a report having been received that he was in that locality. DESCRIPTION OF THE ESCAPEE. Joseph John Powelka; age aboui 22. height about sft 6in, butcher, native of Oxford, New Zealand, medium build, sallow complexion, dark brown hair, dull blue eyes, medium mouth, nose, and chin, usually clean-shaved (had about ten clays' growth of beard when ho escaped), large scar near left shoulder blade, scar on inside of left knee-cap, pinched features, dressed in dark-groy coat, dark vest, greenish tweed trousers, light well-worn shirt (torn in front). Bluchcr boots, no hat, collar, or socks.