BACK TO PRISON.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1922, Page 4

BACK TO PRISON.

burglar who escaped from CUSTODY. DUNEDIN, April 7. Arthur Dominic Plunkett, a onearmed man who broke prison, and was. at large for five months, pleaded guilty at the Police Court to charges of burglary and escaping from custody. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

QUARRY CAUGHT IN CAVE

FOOTPRINTS AS A CLUE

The story of the search for and find capture of the one-armed escaped prisoner, Arthur Dominic Plunkett by the police has quite a Sherlock Holmes flavour (says a Dunedin newspaper)., Plunkett was known to have been m the Lawrence-Roxborough district for some time past, but all attempts to \traoe and capture him had proved fruitless, the escaped prisoner showing considerable ingenuity in procuring ■ food and shelter without giving himself away. It had come to the knowledge of Constable Murphy, of Alexandra, that the man had left the Roxborough district and was making his way in the direction of Alexandra. Before daybreak one morning, in company with a local vonng man, who has enrolled with the Wellington police, but fortunately in this case, had not yet left to taka up his duties,, the two set out over the, hills overlooking Alexandria from the Galloway side of the Molyneux. A diligent search was rewarded. A footmark peculiar to Plunkett was discovered. This distinct, mailt was made by a badly-worn boot. The rubber heel was so badly worn that a large nail projected from the heel of the hoot. ’The sole was also in a had state of repair," part of the sole being loose.

This footmark was traced, bit by hit right down to the Alexandra railway bridge. Here the mark was lost on the hard woodwork of the bridge and the hard surface of the formed road. Considering that the' man might make for Chatto Creole. Constable Murphy continued along the Manukerilria Road and his conjecture proved correct, as before reaching the new bridge over the Manuherikia at Govan’s Ford the hootmnrk was again picked up. In the vicinity of the Olrig sheep run. the keen eyes of the two searchers picked up Plunkett’s footprints here and there. 'Hie traces were carefully followed, loading to and over the railway bridge over the Manuherikia River, mid-way lmtween Galloway and Chatto Creek. Judging from the freshness of the footprints it was assumed'that the fugitive had but recently passed on ahead, and would now in all probability be in hiding and sleeping during the day. REFNPOROE,>I ENTS SECURED.

Constable Murphy and his companion made their way to Chatto by Creek, where they were reinforced by Sergeant M’Clone, a constable from Clyde, and the constable from Ophir. After the two early searchers had partaken of n well-earned meal, the five, men set out to make a thorough search of the rocks*and caves abounding in this part of the country. Fortune favoured them, for from a commanding position, Constable Wroblenski sighted Plunkett, who was so intently watching a dog accompanying the party, that he failed to notice Wroblcnski looking down on him from the higher country. Deduct,ing from the presence of the dog that someone was in the vicinity, Plunkett withdrew into a cave, little reckoning that his movements were being watched. Constable Wroblcnski signalled to the other searchers, who gradually closed in and surrounded the place of concealment. It being reported that Plunkett was armed and would in all probability make a fight for it, the police had to go warily, closing gradually in. Constable Wroblcnski was the first to rush the hiding place of the fugitive, followed by Constable Murphy. Realising, however, that the game was up. Plunkett quietly submitted to arrest, stating that he was not sorry, as the strain of constant watchfulness was beginning to tell on him. He was taken to Chatto Creek, and thence by the afternoon train to the Clyde gaol.

Plunkett looked weather-beaten and travel-stained, hut in physical appear anoe was fresh and well fed. He carried no firearms, hut in a sugar l>ag was found several sticks of gelignite, caps and fuses, and a few handy and serviceable tools and chisels. He was nearing the end of his financial resources. having only Cfi 10s in his possession. He expressed surprise at being captured in this district, where he was not known, and said he had endeavoured as much as possible to walk only on hard surfaces.