INCIDENTS OF THE CHASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14345, 15 April 1910, Page 6

INCIDENTS OF THE CHASE.

RUMOURS AND FALSE ALARMS.

Altogether over 60 members of the police force, including all the available probationers at the police depot at Wellington, have been engaged in the search during the past few days.

Dogs were- used in the search of the Ferguson-street block at Palmerston on Monday morning. Some of the police at. present have dogs out with them.

The fact that the late Mr. Quirke was wearing new leggings like those seen on the fugitive, added to the fact that he did not answer to the challenges, is said to have caused him to be mistaken for Powclka on the occasion of Monday evening's tragedy.

It is reported that when Powelka disappeared at Ashhurst he did not take to the' bush at once, as everyone thought he would do. Instead, he hid himself in a toi-toi bush out in the open, where he could see all that was going on, whilst no one dreamt of \ looking, for him there. j

Someone riding along i'Ltzherbert-street, Palmerston, on Tuesday evening saw a man entering a house by a window. He sent his horse forward at a gallop, fell off at the police station, arose, and rushed in and gave the alarm. Down went the police, followed by the usual scores of civilians. The house and adjacent places were surrounded, and just when the excitement had reached its height it was discovered that the suspect was a resident who had been seen getting through his own window.

Of the various reports which gained currency early in the week one of the most laughable was that of the voman who staled that she saw Powelka sitting on a roadside reading a newspaper.