GAOL BREAKER CAUGHT.

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 32, 2 November 1920, Page 7

GAOL BREAKER CAUGHT.

SENSATIONAL SHOOTING AFFRAY

POLICE CONSTABLE WOUNDED

i PRISONER CHARGED WITH TIMARU MURDER' ■; Bx Telegraph-Press Association Christcburch, November 1. Reginald Matthews, the escaped prisoner,'who was at large, armed, was recaptured on the Lyttelton "Wharf this evening after a sensational shooting affray, with, tho police.. He was seen in the city this morning, and a very hot chase by the police in the vicinity of George Street ended- in the escapee eluding capture for the time being. Matthews was sentenced on August 25. 1919, to nine months'-imprisonment on-a charge of indecent exposure, hut escaped from-Lyttelton Gao! on September 12. 1919. Nothing had been seen or heard of him till ti fortnjaht aeo, tho general belief in Police circles being that he had gone down in tho Tainui. However, tiro .weeks <120 he was noticed in'the Public Gardens, and a gardener who was a witness against, him in the Court proceedings went to apprehend him. Matthews, .it is alleged, presented a. revolver at him and made good his escape. The possibility of his connection with the Timarti tragedy has. been .investigated by the police, and to-night he was brought In Onristchurch and formally charged that on October 27, 1920, nt Timnru. ho did murder one Clarence Edward AVaestaff. .'The arrest of Matthews at Lyttelton was a most . sensational affair. At G.JS P.m. a p&rty of police boarded the Maori and were inspecting some, luegage in a oab;n at the top of the steerage companionway ■ whoa' Matthews entered. Defective Bickerdike took a, 6tep towards him, hut Matthews dropped his hand to his hip pocket and ran out with the police in .pursuit. After <t lively chase . along various alleyways, the fugitive raced down tho steerage eangwa.v to tho wharf. Brandishing a revolver, he doubled round some trucks and then net oft' up between. a double row of trucks. ■Constable Templeton dived at him. and in the souffle'a shot was fired, Templeton receiving a bullet in {lie knee. Ho clung to Matthews, and with the assistance of Constable Heslop. held him till reinforcements arrived. Matthews Tins then secured and. handcuffed.

Besides the shot fired by i Matthews, Detective Bickerdike fired twice and Mattliftws once or twice on tho deck of the Maori, while Senior-Sergeant JackBon. who caught a glimpse of the fugitive, also took aim. his. revolver missed firoj Constable Teuipleton is now iii hospital'; His wound is not serious, the bullet missing the knee-cap..

''It is stated that Matthews, since his escape from Lyttelton Gaol, has been following his calling of a seaman. He signed off the Waipori on October 5. He had been going under, the name of Reginald Irwin, which is,6aid to be the name linder .which he secured .his passage in the' Maori. A man who. is almost the double of Matthews was apprehended at Lyttelton ,y4sterda.v mornins. but waa able to establish his identity and was released. '