THREE CAPTURED

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 85, 7 October 1940, Page 9

THREE CAPTURED

ESCAPED PRISONERS

NO RESISTANCE

ONE STILL AT LARGE

(By Telegraph— Press Associaliou.)

AUCKLAND, This Day

Three of the four prisoners who escaped from the Mount Eden Gaol, Auckland, on Tuesday night were recaptured early this morning. They were sleeping under a large tree in a . pine plantation about 200 yards from lhe Titirangi Hole lon the hills west of Auckland.

The prisoners recaptured are Randall Reginald David Smith, labourer, aged 27, who was sentenced to death at Timaru oh February 4, 1938, lor the murder of an aged storekeeper at Arundel, Canterbury. The death sentence Was commuted to imprisonment for life.by the Executive Council. .

John Henry Silva, alias Shortcliffe, aged 25, labourer and butcher, serving a term of two years for breaking, entering, and theft at. Christchurch. .

Bryan James O'Hehir, aged 23, serving 18 months' reformative detention on nine charges of burglary, and recently, sentenced at Christchurch to an extra- year for escaping from the Christchurch gaol.

An intensive search had been madu in the area where the men were found since Saturday night when it was known that three of the escapees had travelled in that direction. As daWn was breaking this morning Constable McTavish heard a noise near Titirangi Road. He climbed through a fence and saw. the three prisoners sleeping under a pine tree. When the constable called to them they showed no disposition to resist, and said they would come quietly. Constables Saunders and Dwan came on the scene and assisted to handcuff the escapees.

The men said that they had left the fourth man, David Fraser Watson, who was suffering from a chest complaint, at Newmarket on Tuesday evening soon after escaping.

Each in a separate car, the men arrived at the Central Police Station at 7.30 a.m.

The police received a report yesterday afternoon that three men believed to be the prisoners were seen by girls on the Waitakere Drive Road. Police cars were rushed in that direction. A force of 85 Constables and detectives operated under directions • signalled from a hill by Superintendent J. Cummings and Sub-Inspector Hall. | A report was received at 9.15 last night that men, probably the prisoners, were heard at the back of a house. The police then acted on a prearranged plan, which aimed at driving the prisoners out of the bush towards Titirangi Road. ONE KEEPING GUARD. When found by Constable McTavish two of the prisoners were sleeping on the ground and the third was standing as though keeping guard, The three escapees said later that they had realised by the sounds of police movements that the cordon was ! closing in.

When arrested Silva had £4 in his possession. He was wearing naval demin overalls with the badge of a petty officer on the left arm. Smith was dressed in khaki denim overalls, and O'Hehir was wearing a coat and a pair of light trousers, yellow and black football jersey, and a black beret.

On arrival at the Central Police Station the men, who were unshaven and haggard, were given tea, bread, and butter, and at 10.30 a full meal. The men will appear in the Police Court later.