Intense Hunt For Escaped Prisoners

Chronicle (Levin), 20 December 1949, Page 5

Intense Hunt For Escaped Prisoners

Received Mbndav 8.15 p.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 19. The search for the escapees, Darcy Dugan, aged 29 and William Mears, aged 28, has developed into one of the biggest manliunts in recent years. The police are searehing all departing planes, ships and country trains, and are comhtng all likely hiding piaces. Early todav the police took up positions on ali highways leading from Svdnev and searched all heavy transport true-ks. This action fotiowed receipt by a Sydney newspaper of a letter from Dugan, posted i,n Sydney early today. In it he claime'd that he had never been in possession of a pistol and had no intention of getting one. He named two police officers whom he alleged threatened to slioot him. if they got him in the right position. He re-fen-ed to his love of freedoni and said that if' tlre police could catcft him he ' would give himself up without violence. «• Some-.inembera of. the. pojiee ,express concern at the reaction of a section of the public which is- liontsing Dugan. i()ne detec'tive pointed out that Dugan's ; four escapes have resulted in over a dozen police and warders being susi pended and have-cost the State over £2000. Dugan's record ghows convie■tions dating to 1931, including 9fi : charges of theft in the Children 's : Court. At the time of their escape, the men ; were serving a ten-year sentence for i the armed robbery of an elder Iy woman.