THE BOY BURGLAR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1660, 29 January 1913, Page 8

THE BOY BURGLAR.

STORY OF HIS RECAPTURE. A HOT CHASE. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, January 28. Tho story of the recapture of the young Australian, John Bandley, who made such a sensational escape from '• the exercise yard at the police station on Saturday last, makes inlerrsting reading. After leaving the exercise yard on Saturday afternoon, Bnndicy malic, his way to Judges Bay, which he reached at about 0.30 p.m. lie found a dinghy on the beach, and after securing oars and rowlocks from another boat ho pointed his vessel's bow towards Devonport. The boy's inexperienco of the harbour made his trip a long one, and it was only after four hours' hard rowing that ho reached his destination shortly after 10.30 p.m. the same evening.

Constable Clayton was standing on the end of the Devonport Wharf, and . when he saw a boat approaching the steps the constable immediately ■ recognised the occupant as the missing boy, and as the boat approached he put out his hands to seize it. Bandley, though taken by surprise, was equal to the occasion, arid he furiously backed the boat away before the constable conld seize it. He then rowed madly for the beach near Ventnor's boardingh'ousc. As he,drew near the bench ho "leaped from the dinghy, and racing through tho shallow water made across the reserve and towards the esplanade.

Constable Clayton made a determined rush to catch the nimble-footed young man, but as he had to. run tho entire length of-tho wharf and also across the reserve, tho boy was fully 15 yards to tho good when the constable sighted him again. The chase continued, and. Bandley, making for a fence round a garden in King Edward Parade, jumped it like a dear, and hid himself amongst itho shrubs on the other side. A careful search was made for the boy by Constable Clayton, but without snec-rss, and although' other constables from tho city were out starching , the beaches of DevonDOrt and Takapuna all through Saturday night,' they were unable to locate the r lad, and nothing was seen of the escapes on Sunday. Yesterday afternoon, however, a lady was passing through the Devonport- Football Ground when she' saw a boy. descend from a tree. The lad approached and asked her for something to eat,, and she gave him a banana from a bag she was carrying. The lady, who had read the description of the missing boy burglar, instantly came to the conclusion that the ■lad who had accosted her was the oho that was wanted. She informed the police, and Sergeant Bnskerville and Constable Clayton immediately went to the spot where he had last been seen.

■As they were' passing a residence in Beaconsfield Street, Constable Clayton happened to look into a shed, and further investigation revealed , tho missing boy lying hidden ih a loft. Ho was arrested, and later in the evening ho was broughtover to the city, again. . It is thought that the boy, had he succeeded in .evading arrest, intended' returning to Auckland and catching the Maheno for Sydney last evening.