I have a personal rule regarding the compiling of this blog. I do not research the stories of people who died at a time late enough for there to be witnesses to their death. I do this to avoid inflicting further distress on those who were distressed at the time.
But T E Cosgrove broke a number of rules - enough and in such a way to induce me to break mine. He is a singular character and his story is well worth telling.
Cosgrove was a bushman when he joined the army during the Great War, spending time in the NZ Mounted Rifles in Palestine and being briefly transferred to the Anzac Camel Corps. He was invalided home in late 1917, discharged as unfit due to dyspnoea - which seems to be a rather general term for chronic shortness of breath. This first showed itself as heart pain in 1915.
NED COSGROVE - OUTLAW
TAKES TO THE BUSH
DEFIES CAPTURE
Well Armed and A Dead Shot, He Makes A Formidable Adversary
TWO ATTEMPTS AT CAPTURE DEFEATED BY CUNNING AND STRATEGY
(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.) The extraordinary story given below by our Dunedin Rep. reads like a chapter from the graphic accounts given to us of the days of Ben Hall, "Starlight," and Morgan, and other Australian notorieties of the bush. It concerns the doings of "an armed outlaw" named Ned Cosgrove, who has been at large in the south for the past several months. From all accounts Cosgrove has ample ammunition, is a crack shot, is a formidable specimen of humanity, 6ft. 4in. in height, and has the necessary cunning and strategy at his command to give the police an interesting run before he is captured. -NZ Truth, 15/10/1921.
Two petty incidents not long since precipitated a double sensation throughout Otago and Southland, and one m particular has travelled farther afield. The first was the taking to the bush last autumn, of Edward Cosgrove. What originally started Cosgrove for the bush was a disagreement with his brother over some money owing for firewood, and Ned Cosgrove collected the lot, but scarcely any more than was owing to him. He then heard that a warrant was taken out for his arrest, and that his brother had secured a judgment summons. Neither of these stories was correct, but they set him off, and he has been on the run ever since.
There was not much to run away from, but convinced of his own innocence, Cosgrove armed himself with a service rifle and ample ammunition, and cleared into the wilds. It was not very long until he became provincially known as Ned Cosgrove, the outlaw. Ned is a powerfully built man and an interesting character. As his originally trifling case is now one of Dominion interest, it is necessary for "Truth" to record a few particulars at some length.
He is six-feet four inches in height, and his age is 36. He is an ex-soldier and served at the front as a sniper. As a sniper he was a complete success. It can therefore be reckoned that, with a service rifle, he is a deadly shot. And, as a matter of fact, he has already proved it. He seems from all reports to be
DEADLY IN EARNEST and, as he considers himself the victim of injustice it is quite understandable that if driven to desperation he may be tempted to do what he would not even think of in moments of calm.
After taking to the bush outside Tuatapere and Orepuki last autumn, he was unheard of for several months. Early in the winter the scarcity of game in the bush, and the need of more apparel, etc., induced him to approach his old familiar haunts again. What was not freely given to him it is alleged he took. It is reported by the police that he broke into several back-block houses and camps, taking only, however, what his precarious mode of existence demanded for the health and shelter of his body. It must be remembered that this hunted man is laboring under a sense of injustice, and that he never indulged in any house-breaking or robberies until his circumstances, forced him to do so. Up to the time of writing he has had not the least thought of surrendering. It cannot be overlooked, also, that Ned is a popular, picturesque person with many of the kindly residents in and around Orepuki and Tuatapere, and that, if they can help it, he will not. go without the "bite and sup" he must need when driven into the danger zones of civilisation.
Orepuki is in Southland, and lies 43 miles west from Invercarglll by rail. It is a thriving centre of dairying and sawmilling. "Orepuki" is famous as the name given in 1841 to Mr. Halswell by the Maoris. Tuatapere is 56 miles from Invercargill and has similar industries to Orepuki. Both places are in the vicinity of immense tracks of beautiful virgin bush. It is in this bush that Ned Cosgrove
"RUNS THE OUTLAW'S BOLD CAREER."
From the pathless nature of the wild forests and the temperament of the hunted man, it is plain that the police have no easy task to trail and capture their quarry. For nearly six months now he has been playing hide-and-seek with them: a very easy pastime for him. His knowledge of the bush is perfect. Posses of police are now quartered at Orepuki and Tuatapere, and on more than one occasion Cosgrove has been observed. But his cunning and daring saved him each time.
Not long ago two police ambushed themselves each side of a road that the outlaw was known to frequent. The policemen were at some distance from each other and fully armed. A country cart was observed approaching, and a fair, distance behind the cart, a man, unarmed, followed on foot. The wayfarer was
RECOGNISED AS THE WANTED MAN. Both cart anfl pedestrian got well into the ambush, the armed police officers behind the road fence being well hidden. As he got into the enfiladed zone, the first pursuer stood up behind the fence, and covered Cosgrove with his revolver, calling on him to surrender. Cosgrove put up his hands and the policeman signalled for his comrade. Just then, however, the outlaw's tactics as a sniper stood him in good stead. He dived under the fence and ran along the road until he reached the cart. Taking his rifle from the cart, he sent a discharge over the armed policeman and directed him to put up his hands. There was nothing else for the policeman to do, he was out of range and beaten. Cosgrove cooly went forward and took possession of the revolver. The other policeman was too far away, and his vision was apparently obstructed by the cart. He did not come into view during the crisis. The disarmed policeman was directed to "hop it," and getting up to his comrade he had to do so. The service rifle, of course, had them easily beaten. Cosgrove kept them covered until they disappeared towards Tuatapere. Then he plunged into the bush.
Yet another incident. Somewhere In the district there is an ex-member of the force, and very unwisely for his own reputation he boasted that he would capture Cosgrove single-handed. Evidently the challenge was promptly carried to the outlaw for, in the course of the self-appointed one's peregrinations on the fringe of the bush he came
BUMP UP AGAINST NED. The latter had been waiting for him, and the ex-policeman found himself blinking down the barrel of a rifle with a grinning, bearded face plumb above the trigger.
"Throw down your little gun, sonnie." whispered Cosgrove.
The demand was instantly complied with. Taking up the gun, the outlaw directed the would-be hero to watch. The revolver was hurled high in the air and on its descent Cosgrove shattered it with one bullet from his rifle.
"Can't I shoot?" queried the gunman.
"You can, that!" admitted the ex-member.
"Hop it." said Cosgrove, "and never attempt the like again."
There are several other little incidents in connection with curious civilians that could be narrated, but none so dramatic as those given above. In one case it may be mentioned that the hunted man walked into a "hayseed," and said, "Look here, I am no fugitive from justice, but from injustice and I'll neither give time nor money for it."
It is quite plain that this hunted man may be driven to desperation by excessive officiousness. He has done nothing very alarming as yet, except in regard to those who have tracked him. He is not a common burglar or robber, and
A LITTLE JUDICIOUS BEHAVIOUR on the part of his seekers may induce him to return to common-sense and submit to the law. Nothing will be gained by forcing such an unreasonable man to maintain the rugged robe he has adopted.
Constable McCulloch, Dunedin, is now in charge of the outpost at Tuatapere, where already five or six constables are quartered. This is the second occasion on which .Cosgrove has taken to the bush. The first occasion was many years ago. In March last he purchased, a thousand rounds of rifle ammunition. -NZ Truth, 15/10/1921.
"THE ARMED OUTLAW"
(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.) After being at large for the last eight or nine months, Ned Cosgrove, "the armed outlaw" of Southland, whose sensational adventures were fully described in "Truth" of October 15 last, has given himself up to the police at Tuatapere. Cosgrove, who had eluded all attempts to capture him and was known to possess arms and ammunition, had been wanted for breaking and entering and theft. The police had been scouring the country for him for months, but Cosgrove displayed cunnmg and strategy above the ordinary in avoiding capture. The wanted man was brought to Invercargill on Tuesday and brought before the court the following morning, when a remand was asked for and granted. -NZ Truth, 5/11/1921.
An Invercargill P.A. message, states that at the Police Court to-day three charges against Timothy Edward Cosgrove of breaking and entering at Tuatapere and Orepuki were dismissed, the evidence failing to connect the accused with the crimes. Cosgrove eluded the police in the bush country for some mouths, but recently surrendered himself. -Evening Star, 16/11/1921.
Local and General
Constables Fraser and Font proceeded to the Longwood on Friday evening and arrested Timothy Edward Cosgrove on a charge of the theft of a green canvas cover valued at £6, the property of Donald Christian of Pahia. As Cosgrove was living in, a hut on the Round Hill Mining Company's race, and could not be located during the day, the Constables decided to pay a surprise visit. They left Riverton at nightfall and wound their way through the bush, eventually reaching the hut at 3 a.m. On entering they found Cosgrove asleep, and eventually brought him to Riverton. He was charged at the Invercargill Police Court on Saturday morning and was remanded till the 20th. Bail which was not forthcoming was fixed at £100, and two sureties of £50. -Western Star, 17/1/1928.
Local and General
Timothy E. Cosgrove who was arrested by Constable Fraser and Pont in the Longwood Bush, was charged in the Court, Invercargill, with having two unregistered rifles in his possession. He roamed the bush and had done no work for the past two years. There was a considerable amount or uneasiness amongst the settlers in that part of the district. The Police did not press the charges against accused, and he gave the Magistrate an assurance that he would go to work. He was fined £3 on the charge of shooting possums, for being in possession of two unregistered rifles was fined £1 and convicted and discharged on the charge of vagrancy. -Western Star, 24/1/1928.
RIVERTON S M COURT
—Unregistered Firearm. — Jno A. Mangan was charged with having an unregistered firearm in his possession, and delivering same to T. E. Cosgrove. Constable Fraser, in outlining the case said the rifle had been forfeited to the Crown. Fined 10/- and costs 10/-. Mervyn G. Brown was also charged with delivering a rifle to T. E. Cosgrove without a permit on 1st August last. Fined 10/- and costs 10/-. -Western Star, 7/2/1928.
SENSATIONAL ROBBERY
£400 MISSED FROM ENGINE
SAWMILL HANDS’ WAGES
INVERCARGILL, Feb. 16. A sensational robbery is reported from the Riverton district. Early yesterday morning a sum of over £400, representing wages for saw-mill hands was stolen from the locomotive which is attached to Moore’s saw-mill in the Longwoods, and used to convey pay-roll from the Riverton Bank to the mill.
It is understood that the locomotive which was in the charge of a driver and a fireman, left Riverton as usual early yesterday morning with the wages for the saw-mill hands. The mill is about 15 miles from Riverton in dense bush country and when about a mile and a half from the mill the locomotive was stopped to load some gravel, necessitating the temporary vacation of the engine by the fireman and the driver. It is alleged that here the bag containing the money was missed. The police are investigating.
The Longwood district is well-known as a sawmilling country in which several mills are operating. Moore’s mill is an old-established one, and the pay roll has been conveyed in similar manner for upwards of 20 years without mishap. -Stratford Evening Post, 17/2/1930.
A man named Timothy Edward Cosgrove, aged 47, has been arrested and committed to the Supreme Court for sentence in connection with the mysterious disappearance of the pay bag containing £400 at Longwood (Invercargill) recently. Manawatu Herald, 4/3/1930.
RIVERTON COURTS
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1929. (Before Mr Levvey S.M., and Warden). Timothy Edward Cosgrove was charged with stealing £426 19/6 on February 15th at Longwood, the property of Mr Thomas Moore.
He was also charged with breaking and entering Edward A. Brown’s store at Pahia on 28th December and stealing goods to the value of £47 6/3.
Accused who was represented by Mr R. Stout pleaded guilty to both charges and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. L. W. Petchell, accountant for Moore and Sons said on Friday, 14th February the pay was made up for Moore and Sons. Each man’s pay was placed in a separate envelope. There were forty-seven envelopes. He recognised some of the figures on the envelopes produced in Court. The total sum was £426 19/6. The money was made up in £5, £l, half notes and mixed silver.
Thomas Moore, manager for Moore and Sons, sawmillers, Riverton, said on Saturday 4th February, he unlocked the safe at the office and took the bag containing the money at 7.45 a.m. He conveyed it to Longwood, aud handed it over to F. Wilkinson, the driver of the locomotive. Wilkinson was instruced to take it to Granity, and hand it over to T. Dawson. It had been the practice for many years to take the pay to the mill in this way.
The loss of the money was reported to him and he communicated with the police. In company with Detective Lean and Constable Fraser he made a search of the bush about 1 1/4 miles from the gravel pit. They came across a man’s camp. Detective Lean discovered some partially burnt paper, reproduced. He recognised the hand writing of L. W. Petchell. Constable Fraser found a book with E. Cosgrove’s name on it, and also discovered the bag which had been cut open. Inside the bag was £237 5/3. Included in this sum were a number of five pound notes. This was taken charge of by the police.
Frank Wilkinson, locomotive driver for Moore and Sons said he had been engaged in driving the loco for ten years. It was customary for him to receive the bag containing the money from Mr Moore at Longwood, and convey it to the mill where it was handed over to Mr Dawson. On the 14th February he received the bag in the usual way, and it was hung up on a nail in the engine. On arrival at the gravel pit, about a mile and a-quarter from the. mill, he stopped the engine, had a smoke, and in company with Wharlick commenced work in the pit. He saw no one about. They remained there for about one and a half hours. They were working about fifteen yards away from the engine. On reaching a spot about a mile on to take on some wood he discovered that the bag was missing, and he reported the loss to Mr Dawson on arrival at the mill.
Cross-examined by Mr Stout. He was in the gravel pit the whole time the engine was there.
Constable Fraser, said in company with Detective Lean and Constable Pont he visited Round Hill on February 18. On reaching the hotel there he heard a voice which be recognised as Cosgrove’s. He went to the front door and Detective Lean and Constable Pont to the rear door. He entered the hotel and saw accused in company with the Detective and Constable Pont and the licensee of the hotel.
Accused in reply to a question said he had not worked during the past three months. He had £68 and some silver on him. He was questioned about the money and said he got £10 from Trembath at Riverton and that it was his business where he got the rest. He had a parcel of new boots, clothes, and a rifle. He stated that he bought the boots at Kingsland’s, but said it was his business where he got the clothes. He was then arrested on a charge of being idle and disorderly and taken to Invercargill. Witness went with Thomas Moore to Granity and made a search of the bush, where a camp was erected. There was a sapling stuck into a tree, over which a blanket and a rug was spread, with ferns underneath, between two logs on which were two blankets. A bag was used for a pillow, inside the bag being a quantity of tobacco, rolled gold watch, razor, bundle laces, singlet, tin pepper, mirror, trousers, pair socks, pipe, coat, three blankets, one rug, two towels, one plate, frying pan, billy, two bottles, containing whisky, better, bacon, candles, soap, book, bag of tea, part of bag sugar, flour, basin, tomahawk and spoons. He made a further search, and found the bag containing the money about two chains from the camp. It was hidden in a hollow tree. The bag had been cut open, but there was money in it amounting to £237 5/3, made up of five, single, half pounds and silver. He continued his inquiries and found further sums of money, the total being £378 4/9. Of this amount £25 was returned by W. Trembath, £l0 from Mrs Knowler, and £l0 from Neil McAllister. These sums had been paid by Brown at the request of accused. Brown also had a sum of £27 still on hand which he handed over.
—Robbery at Pahia.—
Edward A. Brown, shopkeeper, Pahia, said he resided at the store from Monday to Saturday and spent the week ends with his parents at Orepuki. On 28th December last he locked up his store and went to Orepuki. On returning to Pahia on Monday 30th he found that the store had been broken into, and goods stolen. These included several pairs of boots, a ham, 1/2 dozen stainless knives, stainless forks, shirt, dark grey flannel, 3 pairs flannel trousers, bundle laces, 41bs Golden Eagle tobacco, 3lbs Winner, 3 lbs Juno, 83 tins of mixed, two boxes cigars, 10 packets of cigararettes and 4lbs loose chocolate, 1 razor (Gotta brand) tins salmon, tea, fountain pen, 4 pocket knives, 1 torch, 9 pairs socks, 1/2lb tin of white pepper, 1 bar soap, 2lbs raspberry jam, 1 ball, mercer cotton, sandsoap, 5 watches, set carvers, 2 pairs trousers, boys knickers, 25 kit of mutton birds, 2 towels, total value of £47 '/5.
He was shown some goods on 20th February at the Riverton Police station. He identified the razor, tobacco, pepper, blue flannel shirt, watch mirror, and bag. He did not know the accused. Mr Stout said accused admitted taking certain goods from the store, but the value was not so much as set out in the charge. Detective Lean corroborated Constable Fraser’s evidence and produced a statement signed by Cosgrove who stated that he was 48 years of age, and on Saturday 15th February he was lying in the grass waiting for the locomotive coming from Longwood. He had an idea that the pay bag would be on board. The loco pulled into the gravel pit and the driver and fireman commenced to work. He (Cosgrove) made his way over to the engine, but could not see anything that looked like a pay bag, and went out again. He went about a chain away, then returned. Thinking that what looked like an old bag may be it, he returned and found the bag with a lock on it. He took the bag away. The driver and fireman were busy at their work with their backs to the engine. He took the bag to his camp, and after boiling the billy opened it. The bag was full of envelopes which he opened and found money in each. He did not count it. He took about £80 or £90 of this money and gave it to a young man named Brown to pay off some of his (Cosgrove’s) debts. The young man did not know where he got the money, and he did not tell him. Brown also brought a suit of clothes for him and a new pair of boots. He had possession of these when arrested by the police. He did not know how much debt he owed, but wanted Brown to find out and pay them. He left the rest of the money in the bag in his tent until Monday when he hid the bag and a part of the money in a tree about three chains away. He put about £70 in his pocket. He left the camp late that night and went to the Round Hill hotel. The man that took him to the Hotel in his motor car, Sandy Brown, received he thought about £2 — he was not sure of the amount. — He owed Wm Trembath £25, Dick Knowler £l0 and Neil McAllister £l0. Brown was to pay these amounts out of the money he had given him. He spent a few pounds on liquor and other things. He was under the influence of liquor from Saturday until Monday. He was by himself when he took the money, no other person knew that he was going to steal it.
Accused also gave a statement in regard to breaking into the Pahia store. On arrival there he noticed that one of the windows was broken. It appeared that someone had recently broken in. He eventually entered and stole the following articles: - Knife, 2 forks, 3 blue flannels, pair trousers, 7 pairs laces, 1 watch, 1 packet candles, 2 towels, 1 razor, 3 packets matches, 10 lbs plug tobacco, 2 lbs tin tea, 4 pairs socks, 1 tin pepper, 1 tin baking powder. He took a sack to carry the tobacco. These were the only articles he took. He took them into the bush, and later removed them to Granity. He was by himself when he stole the articles. -Western Star, 4/3/1930.
STOLEN FROM ENGINE CAB
THE PAY ROLL ROBBERY
[Per United Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, May 11. Enacted in the Supreme Court this afternoon was the final phase of the dramatic robbery at Longwood recently, when a bag containing a fortnight’s payroll (amounting to over £400) of the Longwood saw-mill was stolen in a particularly daring manner. “Prisoner appears to be a man born out of his generation. He is quite out of touch with modern society, and seems to have preferred life in the bush, where he lived on game and in the manner of a savage,” stressed Mr B. W. Hewat, when pleading that leniency might be shown towards Timothy Edward Cosgrove, who, having pleaded guilty to the theft of the sum of £426 19s 11d at Longwood, and to breaking and entering and the theft of £47 6s 3d from a store at Pahia, appeared at the bar before Mr Justice Kennedy for sentence. Counsel said that the prisoner refused to divulge the names of the other persons in the affair. “That may or may not be in his favour, but I personally am satisfied he did not hatch the offence,” emphasised Mr Hewat.
His Honour (to prisoner): You have pleaded guilty to stealing the sum of £426 19s 6d from a saw-mill locomotive, and you have likewise pleaded guilty to breaking and entering a shop and to stealing goods therefrom to the value of £47 6s 3d. It is clear from the depositions that your crimes were premeditated and executed by you with boldness. I do not, on the material before me, take the view that you are “a man born out of his generation,” as your counsel has suggested, but rather that you are a lazy person, who has preferred a life that in many respects is dishonest to that of a normal man. I shall sentence you to imprisonment, with hard labour, for two years, to be followed by reformative detention for one year. That is the sentence on each charge, the sentences to run concurrently. -Star, 15/5/1930.
PRISONER ESCAPES
[Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, August 8. A prisoner escaped from Paparua Prison this evening. The discovery was made at 6 o’clock when the roll was called, and the man has not yet been recaptured. He is Timothy Edward Cosgrove, who is serving a sentence of three years tor breaking, entering, and theft. Gosgrove had been working by himself in stables attached to the prison. He was a parole prisoner, and was not under close supervision. Cosgrove, who was a bushman, is forty-six years of age and 6ft 3in in height. He had still the major portion of his sentence to serve, as he was committed in May last. Cosgrove was serving his long sentence for having stolen, on February 15, a handbag containing £400, the wages of the employees of a sawmill in the Longwood district, Southland. Cosgrove filched the bag from a mill locomotive while the man in charge was off his guard. Cosgrove was arrested at Round Hill, Southland, two days after the robbery, and all the money was recovered except £47. -Evening Star, 9/8/1930.
DARING CRIMINAL MAKES ESCAPE FROM PAPARUA
Police Scour Countryside, But Fail To Locate Missing Man.
ESCAPING from Paparua Prison early last evening, Timothy Edward Cosgrove, a notorious criminal, is still at large. Squads of warders and police scoured the country around the prison all night long, but at midday to-day no trace of the missing prisoner had been discovered. Cosgrove was concerned in the famous Longwood robbery of last year, when £400, the pay roll of Moore’s Mill, in Southland, was taken.
Cosgrove, who was serving a sentence of three years imprisonment for breaking, entering and theft, was working yesterday afternoon in the stables attached to the prison. He was on parole and was not under constant observation, though visited periodically. His escape was discovered when a muster of the prisoners was called at six o’clock.
The Alarm Given. Immediately the alarm was given, men from the prison, from nearby country police stations, and from the central station in Christchurch set out to comb the countryside.
The escapee is an expert bushman, and it is thought that he may have headed for the back country, where he would be able to use his local knowledge to escape the police.
Templeton railway station is about two miles distant from Paparua, and it is possible that Cosgrove “jumped" a train there.
It is more possible, however, that if he intended to use the railway that he would head for Rolleston, five miles distant from the prison. Six trains passed through Rolleston between six o’clock and daybreak, and on any one of these the criminal may have secreted himself.
Cosgrove may have headed for the West Coast, but as he came originally from the Invercargill district he would probably go in that direction. The police have taken adequate precautions and expect soon to recapture the man.
Was He Helped? When last seen Cosgrove was wearing the usual prison garb of white moleskin trousers, brown coat and vest. It would be an early move on his part to take steps to secure other clothing in order to hide his identity and the prison officials, in anticipation of the escapee's plans, have issued a warning to the public not to leave their homes without first securing them against intrusion. Until late this morning no loss had been reported to the police, but there is a possibility that Cosgrove may have had an accomplice waiting, with a change of clothes. A motorcar may have been used in the escape.
Cosgrove is forty-seven years of age, and is six feet three inches in height. He has a fresh complexion, and is slightly freckled: his hair and eyes are both brown, and he has a long nose. Special marks of identification are three scars, one of which is on his chin, one on his left thumb, and the other on his right knee. A portion of the top of his left little finger is missing.
A Desperate Crime. The escapee was the central figure in the sensational Longwood robbery of February, 1929, when the payroll of a sawmill (£400) was stolen from a train in which it was being taken from Riverton. The sawmill, Moore’s, is in the Longwood ranges, in the middle of dense bushland. The train carrying the money had to stop about a mile and a half from the mill to load gravel. While the crew were busy, Cosgrove, who had been lying in the grass at the side of the track, searched the engine and escaped with the bag containing the money. Two days later Cosgrove was arrested in the Round Hill Hotel. He was remanded twice in Invercargill on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person, and finally, in the Riverton Police Court, on March 3, he admitted responsibility for the theft of the £400. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from a store at Pahia the previous December. He was sentenced in the Supreme Court to two years’ imprisonment, and one year of reformative detention. He was serving this sentence when he escaped. -Star, 9/8/1930.
PRISONER RETAKEN.
ARREST NEAR LEESTON.
CONSTABLES' SMART WORK.
(Special to the "Guardian.") CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. After being at liberty for two weeks, Timothy Edward Cosgrove, who escaped from Paparua Prison on August 8, was arrested in Gillanders' Lane, about 18 miles from Leeston on the road from Dunsandel to Hororata, yesterday afternoon. The arrest was made by Constable Moriarty, of Leeston, and Constable Connell, of Southbridge, at 2.30 p.m.
Since last Friday Cosgrove had been working for his food on the farm of Mr W. L. McLachlan. At the time of his arrest he was grubbing gorse on the side of the road and had a grubber in his hand. Constable Moriarty received information that a man answering Cosgrove's description was working in the vicinity, and in company with Constable Connell he drove out in a car. When they saw Cosgrove they stopped the car, jumped out, and seized him. He admitted his identity at once and offered no resistance. ,The constables took him to the lock-up at Leeston. Later he was taken back to prison at Paparua.
Cosgrove was still in prison clothes, and although he had a considerable growth of beard was easily identified by the constables.
Cosgrove was first missed from Paparua, where he was serving a sentence of three years for breaking and entering and theft, at 6 o'clock on the evening of August 8. When in gaol he was allowed a certain amount of latitude, being on parole. He was the principal figure in the Longwood robberv of last February, when £400, representing the pay-roll of a sawmill, was stolen from a locomotive between Riverton and the mill.
PREVIOUS ARREST DRAMATIC.
AMBUSH LAID FOR SUSPECT.
CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Cosgrove's capture on this occasion was very undramatic when compared with his arrest following the Longwood robbery. At that time he was living in the middle of dense native bush, and although a careful watch had been kept over all avenues of escape, the police had been unable to locate the man. At last suspicion led the searchers to the Round Hill Hotel, where it was thought Cosgrove had called. They knew him to be a resourceful man and that their chances of capturing him would be slight if they went bodily to the place. So a ruse was decided on.
Some of the police left the car a short distance from the hotel and lay in ambush at the back of the place. The police car then came with a dash into the clearing and stopped with a shrieking of brakes. A constable jumped out, and a moment there was a thunderous knock at the front door and a call of "In the name of the law!" As was expected, there was a clatter of feet inside, the back door flew open and Cosgrove rushed out — into the arms of the waiting constables. -Ashburton Guardian, 22/8/1930.
COSGROVE ADMITS THAT HE ESCAPED FROM PRISON
Crowd Collects At Court To Secure A Glimpse Of Man Who Made Sensation
THERE WAS LITTLE about the appearance of Timothy Edward Cosgrove, as he stood in the dock before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., this morning to suggest the notorious criminal. Cosgrove seemed worried, and looked all of his 47 years. The charge against him was that on August 8 last, at Templeton, having been convicted of an offence, he escaped from the lawful custody of the gaoler. He pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.
Cosgrove, attired in prison trousers and a coat that had seen better days, was an object of interest to the crowd that filled the body of the Court. Tall and loose-limbed, he moved somewhat awkwardly. He scarcely looked one of a type that would have raised apprehensions in the mind of anyone who had met him during his brief period of unlawful liberty. His general air was one of resignation — he seemed prepared, without emotion, to accept whatever might be in store for him. As the charge against Cosgrove was not one that could be dealt with in the Magistrate’s Court, forma! evidence was given.
William Thomas Leggett, superintendent of Paparua Prison, said that until August 8 the accused was a prisoner at Paparua. He had been convicted in May last at Invercargill of theft. On August 8, Cosgrove escaped from the prison and witness saw no more of him till he was returned by the police. Constable Moriarty, of Leeston, gave evidence as to the arrest of Cosgrove. Witness went to Dunsandel. with Constable Connall, of Southbridge, and he found the prisoner in Gillander's Lane where he was grubbing gorse. He admitted his identity. -Star, 2/9/1930.
Timothy Cosgrove had two years added to his three year hard labour sentence. After discharge, he seems to have migrated to the West Coast, where an Edward Cosgrove is reported as applying for an alluvial gold claim in the Hokitika area at the end of 1934 and a T E Cosgrove of Koiterangi, in 1935, applied for a subsidy (under the then Labour government's scheme to lower unemployment and increase gold revenue during the Great Depression) to prospect the head of the Hokitika River. His application was recommended.
As can be seen below, Timothy Cosgrove died aged 85 and was buried at Hokitika in 1968. I imagine he could tell one hell of a story after a few beers.
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