CAPTURE OF PLUNKETT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18513, 25 March 1922, Page 6

CAPTURE OF PLUNKETT

AX INTERESTING ACCOUNT. EXPLOSIVES AND FUSE IN HIS POSSESSION. AT,SO TOOLS. (From Our Own Corrkspondent.i ALEXANDRA, March 24. The story of the search and final capture of the one armed escaped prisoner, Arthur Dominic Plunkett, by the local police has quite n .Sherlock Holmes flavour. Plunkett was known to have been in the LawrenceRoxburgh district for some time past, but all attempts to trace and capture him had proved fruitless the escaped prisoner showing considerable ingenuity in procuring food and shelter without giving himself away. It had come to the knowledge of Constab'e Murphy, of Alexandra, on Tuesday evening that the wanted man had iett the Roxburgh district, and was making ids way in the direction of Alexandra.. Before daybreak on Wednesday morning, in company with a loeci young man who has enrolled with the Wellington police, but fortunately in this case had not yet loft to take up his duties, the two set out over the hills overlooking Alexandra from the Galloway side of the Molyneux. While making their way to a stone hut, which the constable reasoned Plunkett might make his way to. information was received that the dogs of a neighbouring homestead bad been vigorously barking about 2 o'clock that morning. Taking their cue from tins incident a thorough searcli 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-worn boot. The rubber heel was so badly worn that a large nail projected from the heel 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 down to the Alexandra railway bridge. Here the mark was lost on the hard woodwork of the bridge, and the hard surface of the formed road Reasoning that, ’ the man might make tor Chatto Creek, Constable Murphy continued along the Manuherikia road, and his conjecture proved correct, as before reaching the new bridge over the Manulierikio, at Govan’s ford, (he bootniark was again picked up, in the course of a vigilant search. Crossing (he new bridge the dauntless searchers were faced with the problem whether the fugitive from the law would reevoss 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 reasoned to go straight ahead across the flat. The morning train arrived at Galloway 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 the hunt was continued, and perseverance was again rewarded, for in the vicinity of the 01 rig sheep run the keen eyes of the two searchers picked up Plunkett’s footprints here and there. The tracks 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 footprints it was assumed that the fugitive had but recently passed on ahead', and would now in all probability be in hiding, and sleeping during the day. Constable Murphy and his companion made'' their way to Chaito Creek, wheije they were reinforced by Sergeant M’Glono, a constable from Clyde, and the constable from Ophir. After the two early searchers had partaken ..of a hearty well-earned meal, the five men set out to make a thorough search of the rocks and caves abounding in this part of the country. Fortune favoured the police, for from a commanding position Constable Wroblenski sighted Plunkett, who was so intently watching a. dog accompanying the party, that he failed to notice Wroblenski looking down on liim from the higher country. Deducting from the presence of the. dog that someone was in the vicinity Plunkett withdrew into a cave, little reckoning that his movements were being Watched by the enemy whom he had baffled for the past five months. Wroblenski signailed 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 after the fashion of his former mate Aitchison. the police had to go warily. Closing gradually in Constable Wroblenski was the first to rush the hiding place of the fugitive, now brought to bay, followed by Constable Murphy. Realising, however, that the game was up, Plunkett quietly submitted to arrest, stating that he was none too sorry, as the strain of constant watchfulness was beginning to fell on him. He was taken to Chatto Creek and thence by the afternoon train to the Clyde 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 mses. 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 he had endeavoured as much as possible to walk only on hard surfaces. Considerable credit is due to Constable Murphy and his young recruit In running the quarry to earth after a diligent and exhaustive hunt.