CLEVER CAPTURE OF A BUSHRANGER

Otago Witness, Issue 537, 15 March 1862, Page 7

CLEVER CAPTURE OF A BUSHRANGER

Many of our readers will doubtless recollect a well-known character, named Traffbrd, making his escape from the Back Creek lockup some months ago, and although the police used every endeavour to track him no tiace of him could ever be di.-covcrcd. It now appears that he went oiF to the I/ichlan, where he might have remained safe enough had he iiked, but "hearing that his wife had taken to herself another partner, and was residing with him at Burnt Creek, he at once determined upon becking her out and punishing her infidelity. His arrival at Burnt Creek soon reached the cars of the police, but owing to his not being known to the constables stationed there he vemr.ined unmolested for several weeks. However, on Wednesday evening, he was met in Andersonstreet by the constable in charge of the Burnt Creek station, who* noticed that Trafford tiied to avoid him, upon this constable Kiely followed him up, on which Trafford bolted and hid behind a bale of goods, outside Mr. Kinna's drapery store. Tie constable here caught him, and a desperate struggle ensued, which was ended by Kiely dextenoiudy slipping the handcuffs on his man. He was then with much difficulty conveyed to the Camp. On his being taken to Dunolly, lie was placed in the Sergeant's omce for the purpose of identification; handcuffed as he was, he made a dash at the window, and was half way out befoie the police had time to stop him. Great credit is due to Constable Kiely for the prompt manner in which he acted in arresting the prisoner, for Ue was perfectly unknown to him, and does not well answer to his description in the Gazelle ■ having allowed his beard to grow since his escape. Heat firat denied his identity, but on Detective Llo}'d, from Back Creek, seeing him, he at ouce gave in. He stated that it was the first time he had ever been out without being well armed, and that he had only a few minutes previously deposited his revohers in safe keeping. He was brought up before the Dunolly Police Court on Friday, and was remanded to Back Creek. lie is a fine tall powerful looking fellow, apparently of about thirty-five years of age. He appears to treat hi? position with the utmost coolness and indifference. We understand that nearly the whole of his time at Burnt Creek has been spent in watching his wife, and that one night he went in to her tent with a revoh'er in his hand, expecting to find her in bed with i>er paramour, and had he done so he states that he would have shot them both.— A/. ft D. Advertiser.

An Unlucky Bkidkquoom.— Last week a miner started from Oreswick for Ballarat, to have the hymeneal knot tied there. When about half way, the buggy, which he occupied with a elderly woman, broke down, and he had to pay £7 for repairs. He resumed the trip, and immediately on Ins arrival at Ballaarat inquired for his bride, when, to his horror, he was informed that the unfaithful one had decamped with another gay Lothario. All attempts to trace the fugitive proved unavailing, and he has returned to Creswiek, blessing ths roads which prevented him from reaclung the spot in time. — Creswiek Advertiser, 18th Feb. t