This handkerchief belonged to New Plymouth man Harold Thomson. It was damaged when he was shot while hoping to apprehend New Plymouth's highwayman, a costumed robber who carried out a series of robberies in 1892 and 1893. He was finally unmasked on 20 July 1893 when Thompson, and his friend Charles Holmes grabbed him. During the ensuing scuffle the highwayman's pistol went off, injuring Thomson but not seriously. The robber was then revealed to be well-liked New Plymouth carpenter Robert (Bob) Wallath. He always maintained the shooting was an accident.