FUGITIVE’S DIVE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1926, Page 3

FUGITIVE’S DIVE

LONDON, April 3. A midnight chase by Metropolitan and City constables, a dive into the Thames from Loudon Bridge, and the rescue of man, figured in one of the quickest captures ever miido by the police. Shortly before midnight on Tuesday Scotland Yard were informed that ail open blue four-seater motor-car had been stolen from outside the Connaught Club, Marble Arch, W. A description of the car was telephoned to every police station in the metropolis. Ten minutes later, u constable saw a car being driven along Holborn. In trying to stop it lie had a narrow escape from being run down, and, commandeering a taxicab in Holborn-circus gave -base. POLICE CORDON DODGED.

Standing on the footboard, the constable blew bis whistle uud, shouting to a colleague to inform the station, kept the motor-car in sight. When the end of Cheapside "as reached it,was found that a cordon of constables had been drawn across the street from the Dink of England to the Mansion House. The driver of the cal. to avoid the cordon, turned swittly i n to Queen-street with the taxicab in close pursuit and headed for Cannon-street. '['ho chase continued down King V il-liam-street. When near the Monument the driver of the car pulled up with a ierk. By this time the taxicab "iis alongside apd the constable, leaping on to the footboard of the other car, cued a man in the back seat. A struggle ensued, but the constable I aiul other police officers who came to Ids 'assistance overpowered two of the three men in the car. The third man, however, who was the driver of the car, darted away through the narrow streets to London Bridge pursued by a number of detectives. Reaching the bridge the fugitive realised that escape was hopeless and, jumping on to the parapet, dived into the river. ~ . _■ - While the police scrambled oxei i barges and flashed torches on to the water, the river police in motor-pouts

arrvied and found the man clinging to the chain of a barge. He was rescued and taken with the men to noni^hm^Eglk^aaiiaa,