A PRISONER'S ESCAPE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2808, 28 June 1916, Page 6

A PRISONER'S ESCAPE

CUNNING ROGUE ELUDES HIS GUARDS AND TRICKS A TAXI-DRIVER A prisoner uamwl Marshall managed to effect an escape from the Napier mail train as it was approaching Pa.)morston North at about 2.30 p.m. yesterday, but on account of tho vigilance of the police his liberty was of short; duration, and ho was recaptured near Masterton last evening. Marshall, who had been discharged from the N.Z. Expeditionary Forces, was recently Ijeforo the local courts on several charges of forgery, uttering, and theft, some of which had been committed at Napier. After having pleaded not guilty, and having occupied the time of the Court for a much longer period tftim was necessary, ho asked leave to enter pleas of guilty in cacli ease. Ho was committed "to tho Supremo Court; for sentence, and remanded to Napier to appear on tho other charges. Accompanied by an escort, Marshall bohaved himself on the way down till the mail train was approaching Palmerston at a fair speed. Suddenly ho eluded his captors nnd made a dive through one of tho carriago windows and escaped. Endeavours were made to recapture him at tho time without result. Last. evening word was received from Masterton that Marshall had been caught. DETAILS OF THE ESCAPE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston N., Juno 27. Details of tho prisoner's escape from the train show that the prisoner complained of indisposition, and was escorted to the lavatory, one constable taking guard outside the lavatory, and the other remaining in the oarriago. The constable on guard outside, becoming suspicious, found that the prisoner had esgaped through the small lavatory window. He immediately told his companion on the train. On reaching Palmerston a thorough search was made of the platform and tho railway line, but the prisoner had made good his escape. The sequel was equally sensational. About the samo time o. local taxi-man, in response to a telephone call, went to •the Family Hotel, and found a welldressed man, who asked' to be taken at once to Woodville. Tho journey was undertaken; but on Woodville being reached the man explained to the taxidriver that he had been unfortunate enough to leave a bag containing a cheque-book behind. The taxi-driver lent the man his own cheque-book, and the passenger wrote out a chequo for £5, and 4 borrowed two shillings for a shave and two or three blank cheques for immediate use. A circle of police stations had in the meantime been apprisod of the escape, but too late to prevent the prisoner having a shave and tea at Woodville, hiring a taxi, and speeding away into the Wairarapa, whore ho was arrested at seven o'clock this evening. The prisoner will be taken to Wellington to-morrow.