DARING BANDIT CAUGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 365, 5 March 1932, Page 22 (Supplement)

DARING BANDIT CAUGHT.

AMAZING SERIES OF EXPLOITS. OUTRAGES AND ESCAPES. A midnight motor car chase brought to book a picturesque and original bandit, Heinrich lvasprick. For weeks he had terrorised, single-handed, the district known as the Spreewald, which the River Spree traverses by a hundred channels. Liberated from a long term of penal servitude, Kasprick returned to his native village, Bhyleguhrc. For sonic time lie kept himself by poaching, but during one of his nocturnal prowls lie was challenged by a gamekeeper, whom he shot and wounded. Kasprick escaped, but lie had been recognised, and the jiolice were once more on his track. The gendarmerie learned that Kasprick was again at home, and they surrounded his house in considerable force. Several of the men entered. Kasprick ran up into the garret, climbed through a skylight on to the roof, and jumped to the ground over the heads of the astonished gendarmes beneath. As he dashed through the garden they fired a volley after him, but it was dark and lie escaped again. Song in a Dance Hall. On December 25 came the news that Kasprick had spent Christmas Eve, the greatest of German festivals, at his home in the village. But a greater surprise was in store. On the evening of Boxing Day a strange man, singing merrily, entered one of the village inns. He was attired in a huntsman’s uniform, with top boots, and wore a shaggy beard. In spite of this disguise, he was quickly recognised as Kasprick, but two formidable-looking pistols at his belt enforced respect.

Taking a seat at the table, lie greeted his acquaintances jovially. He remarked that anyone who attempted to win the reward of 500 marks (£25) offered by the

police for his capture had better put liis affairs in order before doing so. No one made the venture. Kasprick stayed in the inn for half an hour, and then sauntered down the village streets to a dance hall. Here lie went straight up to the platform, from which he repeated liis threat against “ traitors.” At his command the band then played his “ favourite song.” as he called it, “ The Flower of Hawaii.” He sang this song loudly, and then walked out of the hall. When he was run to earth lie was in the motor car of a local doctor, whose daughter he had saved from drowning some years ago. It was said that the wife of a German refugee from Russia, who resides in Bhyleguhre. also played some part in his sudden and mysterious appearance and disappearance.