POWELKA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 12, 30 August 1911, Page 5

POWELKA.

STILL AT LARGE. RETICENCE OF THE POLICE. (Ter Press Association.) Wellington, August 29. Joseph Powolka, who escaped from the Terrace Gaol early on Sunday morning last, is still at liberty. The vigilance of the searchers has not heen in any sense relaxed, but reasonable reticence is being observed as to the present disposition of the police forces. Questioned as to where attention was most concentrated, Inspector Ellison declined to make public what was being done in this direction. “There has been too much published as it is,” ho added. There is no truth in the statement that a lady at or about Johnsonville gave Powolka a suit of clothes. THE ESCAPEE’S CAREER. Powelka’s career is pretty well known but, perhaps at this stage, it will bo interesting to state that he was 21 years of age on the Ist inst. After Ids school days he joined the butchering business and was employed i.-y local and Wellington linns up to the time he developed the criminal side of his character. A couple of years ago (1909) lie was attacked by typhoid fever and, following upon that, was operated upon for a growth on one of his lungs. A portion of one lung was removed, also three Lbs, and these facts gave rise, it may be remembered, to the surmise that the rigours of Ins experience during the time he was in the hills around Palmerston, would lead to his death from exposure. The reverse was the case, however, and Powelka progressed under the out-door life even though it was decidedly- of a strenuous nature. Previous to all this, however, he had been married, and it was while investigating, marital differences that the police discovered at his house evidences as to the perpetration of several wholesale robberies that had taken place in Palmerston just previously. Powelka first appeared in Court on a charge of attempted suicide, whilst employed at the abbatoirs. He was discharged, and at the same time a separation order was granted his wife. Subsequently lie was arraigned on seven charges of housebreaking and robbery. Ho was committed for trial on six of these and on the seventh he was remanded for a week. Before the week was up Powolka scaled the walls of the local goal and got away but was recaptured at Awahuri. For safety ho was taken to the Wellington goal and a few days later to the Lambton Quay police cells to bo brought before the magistrate and remanded to Palmerston. Whilst there a warder omitted to lock the door of his cell and Powelka walked out. How he got away to the Manawatu and the subsequent sensations are too well known to need repetition.