POWELKA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 16 April 1910, Page 6

POWELKA.

THE PALMERSTON HUNT. STILL A BLANK DAY. A STICKING-UP LAWSUIT. iUnited Pre?s Association.] PALMERSTON NORTH, Friday. To-day was another quiet day in connection with the search for Powelka, which, however, is being prosecuted with unabated vigour by the police, throughout the district. It was an exceedingly trying day, with a bitterly cold wind, heavy rain storms, and thunder and lightning. The searchers in vavious directions had an extremely unpleasant time. The rain is likely to send up the creeks in some of the higher country. To-night, though the rain had ceased, the wind continued exceedingly cold, but had abated somewhat from the gale of the day. Such weather as this, while unpleasant to the searchers, must also be very trying to the fugitive, unless, as seems improbable, he is being harboured somewhere. The police are still inquiring into the incident of the shot alleged to have been fired at the Fox ton train the night before last, but they place no credence in it as being in any way connected with Powelka. In connection with the incident of tba sticking-up of Mr. Laybourne. on Monday night, and of Mr. Pratt, a summons has been issued against a local resident on a charge of assault. The matter will be ventilated in the Magistrate's Court. In the case of Mr. Laybourne, it will bo remembered that h e was stuck up outside his own house by a man who, according to Mr. Laybourne's story, claimed to be Powelka, and who, he alleges, presented a revolver at him. In Mr.' Pratt's story it was stated that he was stuck-up by an individual with a revolver and who he laughingly told to go home.

DEATH OF SERGT. MAGUIRE. THE INQUEST. PALMERSTON N., l"i. The inquest in connection with the death of the late Sergt. Maguire will open at 11 a.m. on Saturday, before Mr. A. D. Thompson, S.M. (the acting-coro-ner), and a jury. After the jury has been sworn in it will be taken to Mr. Hampton's in Ferguson-street, the scene of the tragedy, and the inquiry will resume at 2 p.m. There will be' evidence as to statement made by the late Sergt. Maguire, but no depositions were taken owing to, the very low state in which the sergeant was hi, when the taking of the depositions would have militated against his chance of recovery. The direct evidence will be from Detective Quariermain and Mr. Hampton, and there will also be the evidence of Detective Siddells and Constables Dunn and King. THE INQUEST.

PALMERSTON N.. Saturday. The inquest upon the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Ser* geant Maguire was formally opened bofore Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M., and a jury this morning, and adjourned for fee jury to view the scene of the shoot-' ing in Hampton's garden. The proeudings will resume at 2 o'clock. THE DOMINION SCOUTS. SOME RETURN TO WELLINGTON. PALMERSTON N., Fri. Five of the Dominion Scouts, under Captain Dalrymple, regarding who there has been much controvery, returned to Wellington to-day. They wer e somewhat disgusted with the coolness with which they had been received here. The most censorious references to the Scouts, however, appeared in the Wellington papers, and it is suggested that the pungency of these might have been inspired by the recent incidents at the Kitchener camp in Wellington, in whicii Captain Dalrymple and Lieut. Housleu figured, and which were the subject of a subsequent inquiry.

IS POWELKA DEEANGED? ACTIONS LEAD TO THAT CONCLUSION. The "Maiiawatu Daily Times" says:—The police are faced in tne curious proceedings of Powelka with a probelin of a type they have never before had to face in New Zealand. Powelka differs from all other fugitives we .have known in two tiling. He has not, if we leave the case <u sergeant Maguire aside for calm consideration as to accident or desig-i. shown any inclination to injure anyone. He has not, in spite of his expected temporary disappearances, shown any desire to get away. Au / other man, when he got over to Paiiitua, would have broken away in!o fresh and less guarded country, ;u:.l lay low as long as he could conni.s■tent with getting food. Instead, l.e returned right into the midst of h- ; enemies. That points to a deranged ■mind. Again, when he was clear away at Ashurst., he had the rang-.-s and fresh country ahead, and ne\(r wen; to it. returning again to a community of 12,000 people, some of whom were openly seeking h'is lif'\ practically all of whom were seeking his liberty.