QUADRUPLE MURDERER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14691, 27 May 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

QUADRUPLE MURDERER.

BATTLE WITH POLICE.

RIDDLED WITH BULLETS.

A desperate and sanguinary campaign against a fugitive murderer, which recalls the Houndsditch affair, is reported from tho grim and grimy colliery district of 'Upper Silesia, Germany. On tho night of March 16 a watchman was shot dead at tho Bismark mine by a thiof whom ho had disturbed in bis depredations. A workman named Kowoll fell under suspicion, and when ho was seen a fortnight '.later at tjie Laura colliery some distance away, a policeman attempted to arrest him. But again tho desperado had recourse to his revolver, and, at tho cost of •a second victim, made good his escape.

Meanwhile, a reward of £100 had been •offered for his capture, and when lib turned up at Jossefsdorf a few days ago a locksmith inado a valiant endeavour to ■win this prize. But he, too, was stretched prone with a bullet in his body, and expired soon afterwards. Kowoll now drifted away to Siemianowitch to bid good-byo to a woman with whom he had had tender relationships. But ho was observed and followed, and at night a body of police and gendarmes brought him to "bay. As soon as ho realised the situation ho whipped out his Weapon and blazed away. A sergeant of police, father of eight children, fell dead before his unerring aim, and in the confusion which endued ho managed to slip through tho fingers of his pursuers.

Kowoll had by now picked up an old comrado in crimo named Walerus, and later the same evening tho pair knocked -at the door of a miner in the neighbouring village of liossberg and asked for .shelter. The collier appears to have welcomed his unwonted society, for he not only admitted the strangers, but sent out for liquor, and the three had a roaring carouse together. As he advanced in intoxication, Kowoll became communicative, and informed his host that he was a fugitive from justice, with tho blood of four men on his hands. Then he brandished his revolvor, and declared that ho would defend his freedom to the death. The horrified miner encouraged his two visitors in their potations, and at last had the satisfaction of seeing them both collapse on to the floor in a drunken slumber. He then crept out and roused tho chief official of the village. A force of eight gendarmes was hurriedly got together and despatched to the house, in the hopo of catching the two ruffians in a state of incapability, but as the first of them was ascending the stairs Walerus flung himself upon him and fastened his teeth in his flesh. The official was, however, able to fire his revolver and wound his antagonist, who then relaxed his hold. Kowoll had _ meanwhile opened a brisk fire from a window, and Walerus speedily joined him, in spite of his wound. A regular pitched battle followed, and some 50 or 60 shots were exchanged before the fire from the house was silenced. It was then found that Kowoll was lying dead, with half a dozen bullets in his body, while Walerus, though still alive, had received several further wounds, to which he succumbed later.