WILD MAN CAUGHT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12101, 9 July 1920, Page 5

WILD MAN CAUGHT.

J OI'K YLIAKS IN THE BUSH.

Per ; Press Association. TAIHAPE, Last night.

An unkempt, * primeval-looking man, having several years’ growth of hair on his face and head, was nan to earth in the back country yesterday, He had subsisted on whatever came his way for four or five years. He had evaded the police and_ others, running like a deer, and jumping like a dog, but he was eventually run -down by a horseman who had lain in wait on Cottrell’s Oruamatua Station. The name he gave was Harry Wilds, age 50. He appeai'ed sturdy and muscular, and had wandered in the hill country between Taihape and Napier for upwards of four years. At the Taihape Magistrate’s Court he pleaded not guilty to a charge of being an idle and disorderly person. He refused to give evidence or make any explanation, saying, “I will keep everything to myself.” He was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in Wellington gaol.

OUR CORRESPONDENT’S ACCOUNT.

Taihape July 8

Daring the past four years the police have been receiving varied reports of the existence of a wild unkempt Individual, who had been living a primitive life on the various big stations between Taifaape and Hawke’s Bay. Several attempts had been made to capture the man who had been living apart from civilised beings and who existed on what he could obtain by making sudden and unexpected raids on the muuterers’ camps and ou the station cook-houses ■ from time to time. The of the mysterious man’s, depredations were so varied and he was credited with such fleetness of foot that the authorities began ‘to believe that such an individual existed only in the imaginations of the station hands. A few months ago, however, a wild-looking individual was captured on Moawhango Station and it was then proved that the wild man of the stations really did exist. He was being conveyed to Taibape by his captors when he made a sodden dash for liberty and escaped. His appearance was subsequently reported from various stations in—eluding Ornamatna, Waioujrn, Karioi and Mangaohane. He was also reported to have been seen at Hihitahi and othet places. A little while ago, he went to a rabbitor’s camp at Karioi and was given a slice of bread and butter which he devoured as if he had not tasted food for days. With a sudden movement he snatched remainder of the loaf and got clear away across the open country. On another occasion, he is reported to have suddenly appeared at a cookhouse on one of the stations when he made a sadden dive for the table and made oil’ with a plum pudding. At various times station hands met him in lonely places and from these he secured tobacco. During the four years of his nrimitive existence he apparently got'whatever clothing he required from the huts of rabbiters and station hands, and must have lived in the open during the whole of that time. Probably on account of the recent bitterly cold weather he was forced to come into Oruamatua Station, and had been observed there on several occasions recently. Yesterday he was run down by the manager and some station hands and was brought to the station cookhouse, where he was detained while the police at Taihapo were communicated with. Constable Sharman motored out from Taihapo and arrested the man,, who gave his name as JHarry Willis. The constable found that the man was well guarded pending his arrival, that tw'o horses were ready saddled in case the prisoner made an attempt to break away. Willis was conveyed to Taihape, and placed in a cell at the police station. At the Police Court this morning, before Messrs J P Aldridge and M M Carpenter, J’s.P., Willis was charged with being an idle and disorderly person. A large crowd assembled to get a glimpse of the accused, whose clothing was tattered and torn. His beard was long and of irregular growth, and he was hatless. His hair was very long, and hiS general condition could only he described, as filthy. Hia general appearance fully bore out the previous descriptions of him as a man who had gone wild. Sergeant Matthews stated that for some years past he had received reports regarding the appearance of Willis on various stations, but he had begun to believe that such an individual existed only in imagination. On Wednesday he was informed that the man had been captured, and Constable Sharman was sent out to arrest him. When asked if he had anything to say, Willis stated that he did not wish to say anything, but pleaded not guilty. When again questioned, ■Willis stated that he came from New South Wales, and had only been on the stations for twelve months. He stated that he had taken up such a mode of living in order to evade military service. < Accused was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on.fche charge of being aa idle and disorderly person, and Mr Aldridge, J.P., intimated that the Defence authorities womcßprobably deal with him on a charge of being a military defaulter.