ESCAPE BY AIR

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1920, Page 3

ESCAPE BY AIR

WANTED MAN HIRES A ’PLANE. 'LONDON, July 19. A man for whose arrest a warrant was out lias just escaped fiom London to Paris by flying. The police were watching for him at the seaports and railway stations, but not at the air ports.

He rang up Croydon, the London air port, in the afternoon and inquired about ap aeroplape flight to Paris. It was explained that thp afternoon machine had just gone and that there would not be another until the following morning, Thereupon the 'nquirer, who said he was speaking from the West End declared that he would hire a special aeroplane. “I must be in Paris to-night,” he said. He was told, regretfully*, that, there

was no aeroplane available at the moment for private hire, but he refused to take “No” for an answer and said he was coming down to the air port at once in a taxicab. “You must do the very' best you can for me,” he said. “The matter is most urgent.” He arrived-—a dapper, persuasive person, who was recognised as one who had flown between London and Pans before, and who not only talked eloquently but also seemed to have an unlimted supply of £1 petes. Hp scattered these h ere’ there, and every where, in tangible reipfprcpinept- of his appeal that some aeroplane or other should be made ready for him. He was told that a scheduled aeroplane would be starting as early as 9.30 the next morning, but all he did was to shake his head, and release another sheaf of notes. “I must leave here now; I must be in Paris to-night.” And rts he was in possession of the required passport he was eventually found an aeroplane and pilot and flew off “'0 a cloud of Bradburys, 11 as one meohnnk observed.

The sequel came iab'out 24 hours later, when a. detective appeared at the air port. The man of the lordly tips was, it appeared, a very much wanted man. “We had the trains watched ter him,”, said the detective. “He you Id not have got away by boat.’-*-