MAN WHO DEFIED PRISON BARS

Southland Times, Issue 24574, 24 October 1941, Page 6

MAN WHO DEFIED PRISON BARS

HUNT FOR PAWELKA THRILLING INCIDENTS OF 30 YEARS AGO The Graham man hunt inevitably recalls the Pawelka case of 30 years ago, and, as stated in an article in The Southland Times the other day, there is an unusual link between the two. Constable J. D. Quirke, who shot Graham, is a nephew of Michael Quirke, a voluntary searcher in the Pawelka man hunt who was shot dead in mistake by another voluntary searcher. The pursuit of Graham has been described as the greatest man hunt in New Zealand history, but the hunt after Pawelka, though it was less tragic in loss of life and was not attended by such a display of weapons, was in some ways more thrilling. For nearly four weeks, from March 23 to April 17, 1910, Pawelka eluded his pursuers, whose number before it was all ovex’ had grown to the proportion of a small army. During the greater part of this time he had Palmerston North and the surrounding countryside in a state of nervous tension. Three times he was almost within the grasp of his pursuers and managed to slip through the net. Nevei’ before or since have the New Zealand police had to deal with such a slippery customer. His escapes from gaol are eloquent of his uncanny ability for making himself scarce. And Pawelka had the laugh on the law in the end. Aftex - serving only 15 months of cumulative sentences which amounted to 21 years in all he escaped from the Terrace Gaol, Wellington, and has not been heard of since. ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY John Joseph Pawelka was born at Oxford, Canterbury, on August 1, 1887, but while he was still young his parents moved to Palmerston North. After leaving school he entered the employ of a butcher. In 1910 he was arrested on six charges of breaking, entering and theft at Palmerston Nox-th, but while on remand he escaped from the Palmerston North gaol. He was speedily recaptured and was transferred to the Terrace Gaol, Wellington, presumably for safer custody. On the day he was to appear before the Magistrate in Wellington, March 23, 1910, Pawelka was taken to the Lambton Quay police cells. From there he made his escape and headed for home, his trail being marked by a series of thefts. Fox’ more than a week the pursuit of Pawelka was purely a police matter and aroused no particular interest. Then an incident occurred that brought the affair right into the limelight. Late at night on April 2, John Kendall, a resident of Palmerston North, returned home with his wife and was confronted by a masked man who demanded money at the point of the revolver. After some difficulty Kendall succeeded in convincing the intrude!’ that he had only a shilling in his pocket, and the man departed. It was Pawelka. NIGHT OF TERROR The hue and cry was now fairly raised, but Pawelka was not to be caught easily. On April 5 Palmerston North had a “night of terror.” Three large fires broke out one aftex- the other. The first destroyed the High School, the second a furniture workshop in the Square and the third a shop, also in the Square. At least two of these fires were clearly the work of an incendiarist, and suspicion naturally fell on Pawelka. The man hunt was intensified. Policemen were drafted into the Palmerston North district from Wanganui, Napiexand Wellington and there were besides dozens of voluntax-y helpers. It would take too much space to describe all the exciting incidents that followed in the next few days. Tragedy entered the drama on April 9. A watch was being kept at night on a house in Palmerston North which Pawelka was expected to visit. A dark figure approached and Sergeant Maguire grappled with it. The struggle between the two men in the darkness on the lawn ended suddenly. A shot rang out and Sergeant Maguire fell with a wound in the abdomen. The intruded escaped. The sergeant died a few days later. . There was another tragedy two days after the shooting of the sergeant. Michael Quirke, a volunteer searcher from Pahiatua, was challenged by two other volunteer searchers. When he failed to stop he was shot dead. The net was closing in on the fugitive. He was captured at Ashhurst on April 17 and there was no gun play. It was a tame, though fortunate, finish to a most exciting man hunt. CHARGE OF MURDER Pawelka was charged with the murder of Sergeant Maguire. On May 28, 1910, the jury, after a retirement of an hour and 55 minutes, brought in a verdict of not guilty on the ground that there was not sufficient evidence to show who fired the shot. There was a suggestion, broadly hinted at in the Press, that it was fired by anothexpoliceman in the excitement of the moment, but a ridex- to the jury’s verdict declared that this was not so.

Pawelka was subsequently charged with breaking, entering and theft, arson, robbery under arms and escaping from legal custody. He received three separate sentences of seven years each, all cumulative. The judge was detemined that Pawelka was to be kept under lock and key for quite a long time. Pawelka thought otherwise. He escaped from the Terrace Gaol, Wellington, on August 27, 1911, and the -rest of his 21 years’ sentence still remains to be served.