PURSUIT AND CAPTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20993, 2 October 1931, Page 8

PURSUIT AND CAPTURE.

INTRUDER IN BEDROOM. GIRLS SUMMON ASSISTANCE. tHASE IN THE DARKNESS. SHOT FIRED FROM GUN. [by telegraph. —own correspondent.] FEILDING, Thursday. Tho peace of the rural village of Halcombe was rudely disturbed this morning by the sound of a shot from a gun. At about one o'clock two young ladies who are at present, living by themselves owing to the absence of their father arrived home from a dance. They prepared to retire for the night when one thought she heard a noise in tho front room. Wisely deciding not to investigate themselves the girls went to a neighbour, Mr. R. Williams, and sought his aid. Mr. Williams went about the matter of investigation armed with a poker and an electric torch. On snapping cn tho torch in the front room ho found a masked man crouching beside the bed. Ihe intruder made an attempt to escape by the window through which entry to the premises had been gained. Mr. Williams got in a good blow to tho head with the poker. In spite of tho blow the intruder got through the window and made off into tho night. Going to his house Mr. Williams procured a shotgun and also aroused Messrs. L. Davies and B. Brady, adjacent residents. The chase was then continued. A minute or two later Mr. Williams saw a figure making off across a paddock. A shot from the gun into tho air had the effect of making the fugitive change his direction to run right into the arms of Mr. Davies, who is a well-known local wrestler. He: applied a hold which effectively kept tho captured person until the others arrived. The captured man was taken to the Halcombe railway station, whero he was found to bo a young Maori, 22 or 25 years of age. He was barefooted and had a handkerchief tied round his face in a manner which covered everything but his eyes. The police in Feilding were summoned and while waiting for the arrival of a constable the Maori made another bold bid for liberty by diving through a shut window. H:.s guards were too alert, however, and Constable Johnson arrived from Feilding to find the young man still in captivity. He was removed to tho Feilding lock-up.