PAWELKA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 40, 2 October 1911, Page 8

PAWELKA.

WHERE IS HEP

THE PALMERSTON CLUES

A MYSTERIOUS STRANGER

The facts which we published recently in connection with occurrences winch had been associated with the missing Pawclka have not been added to, says the Palmerston “Times”. If Pawclka was in Palmerston then, it is quite possible that he is in Palmerston still, or somewhere between here and Wellington. Wherever ho is ho has not revealed himself, but the Wairarapa “Age” publishes a story which wo give below for what it is worth. DOWN THE LINE. Absolutely the first and only clue which the police obtained after the Wellington escape were those to which we referred her and on the Manawatu line. A place on the, line was entered, and various articles, including a razor wore taken. They wore articles of the type that Pawelka had before taken and which he might bo expected to take again and certain footprints were left. THE MAN WITH THE BAG.

A few evenings after a young fellow comfortably dressed, wearing an overcoat and carrying a handbag, presented himself at a certain house in Palmerston and asked confidently for certain people. The present oecu-. pants of the house had not been there, long and did not know anything about tho persons asked for. They said so, and tho visitor was astonished and said that those lie asked for had lived there. Ho went away and the occupants of the house went out to a celebration in the Army barracks. When they returned they found that the house had been entered and food taken, and amongst other indications was a plain .footprint.

MORE FOOTPRINTS

Tho matter was reported to the police. The footprint tallied with those loft at the robbery on the Manawatu line, and were the size of hoc! which Pawelka wears. Inquiry showed that the persons the stranger inquired for had occupied tiic house when Pawelka was here, and were friends of his. The description given by the present occupants of tho visitor fitted Pawelka. There were finger marks which were investigated by the exports, but they did not prove sufficiently distinct to bob of any help. Evidence of a camp were found at Awapuni in the locality previously favoured by Pawelka. WATCHING THE TOWN.

The town was already being watched and these incidents caused a considerable number of police to be brought here from various stations, but Pawelka, if it was he, vanished once more into the void from whence lie came, and in, due course the constables were drafted back to their stations, or most of them. Vigilence, however, has

not otherwise been relaxed either here or at Ashhurst, and it is felt that if Pawelka is in the' vicinity he must sooner or later reveal himself by some act, no matter how he may ho helped by sympathisers. Ho has many sympathisers, who would keep him in food or clothing or information, but tho offence of harbouring an escaped prisoner is a serious one, and it is thought that few would care to risk concealing him in their house. Inspector Ellison was here this week from Wellington. Inspector Wilson was down from Wanganui at an earlier stage. AN AUSTRALIAN STORY. WHAT THE WAIRARAPA “AGE” SAYS.

There have been persistent rumours as o Paweffia having been got away by sea, and various vessels have been watched on arrival at their destination in response to telegrams from the New Zealand police. It would probably require a. considerable bribe to a captain to take a man like Pawclka away, and it is questionable whether anyone would find the money to compensate for tho risk run. The Wairarapa “Age,” however, professes to know all about it, and publishes this story which we give for whatever it may ho worth—presuming that,we doubt the “prison clothes” story altogether. “The police have received good information that Pawelka is in Australia, hut no effort has been made to bring him' back. Tho general opinion is that he is better out of the country, and that if ho is going to cause trouble it will be cheaper for New Zealand if it happens somewhere else. There is no doubt that the prison clothes washed up from tho harbour were those belonging to the escaped criminal. 'The general opinion is that he got away on a timber ship trading between the West Coast and Sydney that was in harbour on the night Pawelka broke gaol. The boat was searched on arrival at Sydney, but Pawelka was not on board. One of the crow admitted he was put ashore in a boat along tho coast.