POWELKA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 13, 31 August 1911, Page 5

POWELKA.

SOUTH ISLAND GETTING SCARED. .Per Press Association.) Christchurch, August 30. There is always a possioility that the escaped.' prisoner, Powelka,. may manage to elude tiie police m the North Island and cross into the South Island. Various steamers and other craft trade from different ports in the North to as many in tne South, and it is conceivable that Powelka may secure a passage. All ports in the North are being closely watched, and tne Southern ports are under similar surveillance.

Intimation of the escape was telegraphed to every police station in New Zealand, and every officer has been instructed to keep a look-out for the escapee. The local police are at a-loss to account for the facility with which Powelka escapes from the Terrace Gaol. One officer said that the modern feeling against the adoption of stern precautionary measures when dealing with notorious escapees might have something to do with it. No doubt Powelka could be made amply secure, but the public would not tolerate the u iauguisiier in prison in cnains. At one rune the puolic were not so tender-hearted, as ne had himself seen prisoners parading the Wellington streets witn leg-irons on. fie uia not know wnetiier leg-irons were still in use in prisons, but he had not seen them in public, for many years. A prisoner like Powelka, if he was to oo kept safely in custody, seemed to require more than an ordinary measure of surveillance. \ _ AN ARREST ON SUSPICION.

Auckland, August 30. A constable on ms uo.it in oi.oi tiand Street in the city to-night noticed a man resemuung x'oweiKa, ana tooK nira olf to tlie police station. Curiously enough, in addition to a facial resemblance, he had a mark on Jiis arm similar to the one which Powelka is said to bear. The man was able to prove to the satisfaction of the offitii.it v«.s i. it tile escapee, und was accordingly released. •STILL ENJOYING LIBERTY. Wellington, August 30. The sustained vigilance or a large number' of police orficers has so far orougnt no material development in the matter of tire escaped prisoner, Powelka. Up to date no reward has been offered for Powelka’s recapture. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. F. Waldegrave, states that a departmental enquiry will he hold into the circumstances of the escape. Such enquiry, it is understood, will include pn investigation of the present condition of the Terrace Gaol as a prison.