GRIM TRACKERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23809, 9 November 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

GRIM TRACKERS

How Relentless "Motilities" . 1 Captured THE case of a "Canadian Jack Sheppard" named Cashel shows the resource and pertinacity of the ' . famous "Mounties" in tracking down crime. It took the Force a year to bring Cashel to justice.

IN his book, "Royal Canadian Mounted Police" (Blackie), Mr. L. Charles Douthwaite teils us that Cashel was wanted for a dastardly murder. Clues were difficult to find in the wild, frozen country in which he operated. His victim's body was discovered in ati almost concealed creek only after months of patient search, lividence had to be accumulated shred by shred. A Hold-up It proved to bo sufficient to con\ict him. But five days before the date fixed for his execution, 011 his twenty-first birthday, he was allowed to see his brother. The constable who was present noticed nothing pass - between them. Immediately the brother left Cashel was taken into the corridor while the death-cell was inspected." Suddenly he produced two heavycalibre revolvers and .said to the constable guarding him: "Just one word or movement out of you and, believe me, it'll be the last." Holding up other officers and locking them in the cell, lie made his way to the guardroom, freed himself from his leg-ivons and walked into the street a free-man. '

man. Bobberies and hold-ups at lonely ranches were the only clues.

Stolen clothes found in a haystack at a ranch at Nose Creek led to a search of the bunkhouse where the hired men slept. Constable Biggs lifted the trapdoor of the cellar, decided he couldn't descend the, steps carrying both lantern and revolver, so dumped the revolver. - At the bottom the lj e u disclosed Cashel!

He fired, missing by inches. Bigw leapt for the trapdoor, pulling "himself up, grabbed his gun, fired back. Then there was a shooting match, and tlia sound of a fall from below. But Biggs wasn't taking chances. He sent for inspector Duffus. Duffus-called on Cashel to "come right up." - reply, no sound. "There's one way . ,*/> said Duffus —and sent for straw' to smoke him out. - Run to Earth The inspector again told him to come out —with his, hands above his head Then there was a shot, followed bv 'the crackle of flames. "• Suicide? The: officers waited, called again. And np came the Canadian Ja Sneppard—ragged, unshaven, blue with cold. _ "I bin cainpin' on the trail of-that snake ever since I made my second getaway," he snarled, referring to his arch-enemy, Constable Pennycuiek; who had led the investigations from the outset and at last "got his man."

So again the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had to go after their