ESCAPE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 7, 2 September 1940, Page 5

ESCAPE

PRISONER GAINS FREEDOM POLICE COMB COUNTRY FOR YOUNG MAN Pleading that he was cai' sick, -Arthur Mitchell Wray 1 ,aged 25, •on- remand from Rotorua to "Whakatane on a. charge of abduction, escaped from his policfe ■ escort when the car was stopped on the main WhakataneI'Rotorua highway at about noon on Friday. Despite an intensive ■ search by police from Whakatane, Taneatua and Rotorua, under the direction of Inspector Carroll and " Detective-Sergeant his apprehension has not so far been reported. > Wray was arrested at Taupo and .-appeared" before Justices at rua on Friday morning. He was re?manded to appear at Whakatane and left utedor the escort of Constable ISjiil-i- When about six miles from Te Telco, near the turnoff to Fenton's Mill, the prisoner -complained that lie was ill. The •escort stopped the car and alighted with the prisoner, who immediately dived into the thick scrub and ti-tree''which borders the road at 'this place. i The Police Party. The police starch was commenced -.ias soon as the escape was known, Inspector Carroll, officer in charge of the Rotorua police district, and "Detective-Sergeant White, dietective ►officer at Rotorua., directing operations. Comprising Constables Donnelly, "Richardson, Riddell, Egan and •Quirke, of Rotorua, Sergeant M. Farrell and Constable F. Fuller, of Whakatane, and Constable O. Puce, •of Taneatua, the party conducted the search throughout Friday night, '.Saturday, Saturday night and yesterday, the rain which has fallen steadily since Friday afternoon mak ring conditions far from favourable. The prisoner is about five feet '-eleven inches in height, of slim Tbuild and dark complexion. At the time of his escape he was wearing -4i double-breasted blue suit.

As we go to press informal rfion is received to the effect that " Wray was recaptured near Fen- " ton's Mill at a late hour last' night. His arrest was effected by Sergeant Farrell, of Whakatane. '