TRACKING AN ESCAPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18050, 27 March 1922, Page 6

TRACKING AN ESCAPE.

SMART WORK BY POLICE

FOOTPRINTS AS A CLUE.

QUARRY CAUGHT IX CAVE

[bt tklegkaph-own coerespondest.]

DCXEDIN. Saturday The story of the search for and nni l capture of the one-armed escaped prisoner, Arthur Dominic Plunkett, by the local police has quite a Sherlock Holmes flavour. Plunkett was know* > 0 have been in the Lawi en'-e-Rorburgh gl s . trict for some time past, but ail attempt to trace and capture him had" proved fruitless, the escaped prisoner showing considerable ingenuity in procuring food and dicker without giving himself away.

It had come to tho knowledge of Constable Murphy, of Alexandra, th=%t th e man had left the Roxburgh district and was making his way in the direction of Alexandra. More daybreak on Wedgesday morning, in company with a local young man. who has enrolled with the Wellington police but, fortunately in this case, had not yet left to take' up n j ß duties, the two set out oTer the hills overlooking Alexandra from the (talloway side of the Molyneui. While making their way to a store hut, to which the constable reasoned Plunkett might inako his way, information was received that the dogs of a nevr-bonring homestead had been vigorously baj-king about two o'clock that morning. Taking their cue from this incident a thorough search was made for tracks of a passerby. A diligent search was rewarded. A footmark peculiar to Plunkett was discovered. This distinct mark was made by a badly-wo"n box>t. The rubber heel was so badly worn that a nail projected from the hoel of the boot. The sole was also in a bad state of repair, part of the sole being loose.

This footmark was traced bit by bit right cown to the Alexandra nulwity bridge. Here the mark was lost on tne hard woodwork of the bridge and the hard surface of the formed road.

Cmsidering that the man might make far Chitto Creek, Constable M".rphy continued along the ManuheriJria Road and his conjecture proved correct as before reaching the new bridge over the Manuherikia at Govan's Ford the bootmark was again picked up, Plunkett's Unlucky Jay. Crossing the new bridge the searchers were faced with the problem as to whether the fugitive from the law would recross the river by the Galloway footbridge or continue on past the school and follow the railway. It must have been Plunkett's unlucky day for again the decision of Constable Murphy proved correct when he decided to go straight ahead across the flat.

The morning train arrived at the (."Jloway station. A search was made of the train, no chances being taken of allowing the man to give them the slip. Nothing eventuated from the train search, so tie hunt was continued, and perserverance was again rewarded, for in the vicinity of the Olrig sheep run, the keen eyes of the two searchers picked up Plunkett's footprints here and there. The traces were carefully followed, leading to and over the railway bridge over the Manuherikia River, midway between Galloway and Chatto Creek. Judging from the freshness of the footprint* it was assumed that the fugitive had hot recently passed on ahead, and would now in all probability be in hiding and sleeping during the day.

Reinforcements Secured. Constable Murphy and his companion made their way to Chatto Creek, where they were reinforced by Sergeant McGlone, a constable from Clyde, and theconstable from Ophir. After the two early searchers had partaken of a wellearned meal, the five men set out to make a thorough search of the rocks and caves abounding in this part of the conntry. Fortune favoured them, for from a commanding position, Constable Wroblenski sighted Plunkett, who was so intently watching a dog accompanying the forty, that he failed to notice Wroblenski coking down on him from the higher country. Deducting from the presence of the dog that someone was ia the vicinity, Plunkett withdrew into a cave, little « reckoning that his movements were being watched.

Constable Wroblenski signalled to the other searchers, who gradually closed in and surrounded the place of concealment. It being reported that Plunkett was armed and would in all probability make a fight of it, the police had to go warily, closing gradually in. Constable Wroblenski was the first to rush the hiding place 01 the fugitive, followed by Constable Murphy.

Not Sony To Be Caught. Realising, however, that the game was up, Plunkett quietly -submitted to arrest, stating that he was not sorry, as the strain of constant watchfulness was beginning to tell on him. He was talsen to Chatto Creek, and thence by the afternoon train to the Gvde gaoL Plunkett looked weather-beaten and travel-stained, but in physical appearance was fresh and well fed. He carried no firearms, but in a sugar bag was found several sticks of gelignite, caps and fuses, and a few handy and Serviceable tools and chisels. He was nearing the end of his financial resources, having only about £5 10s in his possession. He expressed surprise at being captured in this district, where he was not known, and said he had endeavoured as much as possible to walk only on hard surfaces.