ROUNDED UP

Evening Star, Issue 23701, 8 October 1940, Page 3

ROUNDED UP

PRISONERS RECAPTURED IN BUSH TAME SURRENDER [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, October 7. Surprised while hiding in « i small area of bush not far from the Titirangi Hotel at C..'iO a.in. to-day, and without offering any resistance beyond an -attempt at bluff, three of tne four men who escaped from the Auckland prison last Tuesday night were recaptured by three constables taking part in tho search for them. One convict was Kandull -Reginald David Smith, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence, and the others Bryan James Ohehir and John Henry Silva, both burglars. They had eaten nothing for two days, and wore a hotrogeneous collection of garments stolen from different places they had visited at night. An organised programme of search began over a wide bush-covered area on Sunday, and continued throughout tho night, and tho discovery by Constable A. J. M'Tavish of fresh footprints in swampy ground led to the apprehension of the hunted men. The circle of search was narrowed abruptly at 9 o’clock on Sunday night with the theft of a coat and a. pair of trousers from a house nearly opposite tho filtering plant ou the old exhibition drive. All through the night patrol cars and police sentries kept a close watch upon the territory between the Titirangi Hotel and Parau. and early this morning Constable M'Tavish, Constable D. J Dwan. and Constable W. Saunders wore detailed to patrol the area in the neighbourhood of the hotel. They went carefully through the undergrowth, inspected sheds, baches, and houses, hut found nothing suspicious until they reached a small slip-rail, on the other side of which Constable M'Tavish saw several footprints evidently made by someone in a burry. The three officers separated. Constable M'Tavish took the top of the ridge and had not gone far when he saw Smith’s head appear cautiously from the other side of a fallen log. As the constable approached tho log lie saw Smith crouched down behind” it, and near by his two companions, Ohehir and Silva, hiding in some scrub. From all accounts, Smith, who acted ns spokesman for tho three, denied their identity, but the constable whistled a prearranged signal to summon Saunders and Dwan. NO RESISTANCE. At no time did any of the fugitives show any sign of truculence, even when they were being handcuffed, although they had ample opportunity while Constable M'Tavish was alone with them. The three convicts had ample tobacco, but from what they said they had had very little to eat since the night of their escape. For the most part they had lived on a packet of oatmeal and some raisins they had stolen from roadside grocery boxes belonging to farmsteads in isolated districts, supplemented with edible roots they found in the bush. Dirty and unshaven, and dressed in variegated clothing which ranged from a football jersey to a suit of naval denim overalls, they presented a curious picture. Nevertheless, they were in good physical shape. While the thrCe constables with their captives were making toward the road, patrol cars and about 20 officers ou foot were converging upon the area following an alarm given by a civilian a short while before that he had seen three men in the bush about 200yds or so below the Titirangi Hotel. Consequently, when the three constables and their prisoners reached the road they were met by a considerable number of men The prisoners were searched, and Silva was found to have about £4 in silver and pennies in his pockets. Smith, Ohehir, and Silva were placed in separate patrol cars and brought to Auckland. As soon as they arrived at the Central Police Station Superintendent Cummings arranged for them to be given a substantial breakfast. The fourth man, David Fraser Watson, aged 21, apparently parted company with his follows when they abandoned at Newmarket the motor car they took from outside a house in Seecoinbes road a few- minutes after their escape from tho Auckland prison. Watson has not since been seen. It is said ho has a chest complaint which would have precluded his risking the rigorous experience of nights spent in the bush and the doubtful diet of the fugitives from justice. All three warders who suffered injuries on the night the four men escaped are still in Auckland Hospital. Mr J. G. Crawford, who suffered severe head injuries, lias improved slightly, but' is still iu a serious condition. Mr J. W. Scholium and Mr A. Burgess, who arc being treated for concussion and slight scalp 5 wounds, arc making satisfactory progress Praise for all those who had taken part in the arduous search was given by tho superintendent of police at Auckland, Mr J. Cummings. Whether in their long watches at police stations or in traversing rough, difficult bush territories in the bad weather during the early stages, everyone engaged in the task which confronted them had upheld the traditions of the New Zealand Police Force. He made special mention also of the help given by warders from the Auckland Prison. The Mayor of Auckland, Sir Ernest Davis, sent a letter to Superintendent Cummings congratulating him and his staff upon the success they had achieved. Ho said he felt sure it would bring relief to householders generally, and that tho citizens were highly appreciative of tho efficiency with which the police in Auckland had undertaken their work.