TARANAKI HIGHWAYMAN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11848, 22 July 1893, Page 2

TARANAKI HIGHWAYMAN.

Avrcstcd at Last. A Plucky Capture By Inspector Thompson's Son. The Highirayniau Uses His Revolver.-!. Charges of Burglary also made against Him. A Curious Career, The Sou of a Respectable Resident of Taranaki. (Per Pbess Association). New Pltmouth, July 21. The highwayman was ccught last night at about 11 o'clock. Ho bailed up the Criterion Hotel, and presented a pistol at Mrs Cottier. Inspector Thompson's son Harold, who was in the hotel, knocked the man down. The highwayman fired and wounded young Thompson in the side, but not seriously. Assistance being at hand, the man was held down on the floor till the police arrived. The man's name is Wallath. He was dressed in Volunteer uniform, and had two revolvora loadad. Mrs Cottier, in her account of the highwayman affair, says she was standing at the bar talking to Mr Simmons, when the highwayman came in. He presented a revolver at her and said " nail up !" She thought it was a joke, smiled, and said " Pass on ! " She thought it was a Volunteer having "a lark." Did not feel in the least frightened. He passed on, and shortly afterwards she heard a phot fired and called for help. Some one said " I believe Mrs Cottier is shot." She then went to the staircase and saw the highwayman on the floor.being held down. He appeared to have fainted, and she got some water to revive him. Mr Cottier was in bed at the time, not being very well. Dr O'Carroll states that Thompson, who had a tussle with the highwayman, had a couple of leaden pellets in him. It was a very narrow escape. He believes the highwayman must have fired at Thompson's heart, but in the struggle ihe charge glanced off about five inches. There are four distinct cuts in the coat, indicating the entrance and exit of two distinct pellets. He examined the prisoner in the lock-up, and found that he Bhows indications of having been kicked on the right leg or struck with a heavy stick. The prisoner stated that he would have made it hot if it had not been for young Thompson, and that there were too many for him. Afterwards the prisoner appeared to be perfectly cool, and did not realise his position. Robert Wallath was charged this morning before the Police Court with firing at Mr Harold Thompson with intent to thareby kill and murder him. Inspector Thompson applied for a remand, as the man had only been arrested on the previous night. He said probably other serious charges would be made against the accused. The prisoner was remanded till next Friday, no bail being allowed. Charle3 Rolmes gives the following account of the highwayman affair. He ] was at the side bar and saw the highwayman at the opposite bar. The latter was dressed in an officer's unifonr with a red tunic, and wore a mask. The man went up the Bassage and Mr Thompson run to meet him. Holmes followed Thompson, and the latter tackled the highwayman, who Sred as soon as Thompson rushed at him, and Homes went to Thompson's assistance and caught hold of the revolver the highwayman had in his hand. It was a five-chambered revolver, and four chambers were loaded and capped when ! he got hold of it. The highwayman had another revolver in his belt. In tho struggle the whole of them, fell down, but they held the highwayman until he was handcuffed by the police. The man mido a desperate struggle, and had he not been disarmed he might have need the revolver again. Harold Thompson's account of his encounter with the highwayman is that he was at the side bar of the Criterion Hotel. He saw a man in a military uniform at the ojposite bar, who pointed a revolver at Mrs Cottier. Bomeone then called out " It's tbe highwayman," and Mrs Cottier told the man to move on. The highwayman went along the passage, and Thompson ran round the passage to meet \ him, and the two men met at the bottom of the staircase. Wallath then fired his revolver, hitting Thompson on the loft aide. The lattor then rushed at tho man, seizing him by the throat, and a severe struggle ensyod. Thompson struck his antagonist, when Charles Holmes came to his assistance and the man was thrown on the floor and held there till a constable cams and handcuffed Mm. The man bad on an old Volunteer unform coat, white stripßd sergo trousers, patent leather crossbelt with cartouche box, blue serge helmet with !i red Volunteer feather fastened in a zinc plate, a black goat's hair false bu.-.rd, and a mask of blue merino.