PRISON-BREAKER RECAPTURED

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1929, Page 2

PRISON-BREAKER RECAPTURED

CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING UP TO ARREST.

INTERESTING CHAIN 0? EVENTS.

NELSON, June 12

Further details in connection with the arrest of Darrel H. Burnaby, who was remanded at the Magistrate's Court this morning on a charge of burglary at Montgomery’s garage, form an intersting story of how the local police force, aided by observant citizens, promptly and cleverly connected a series of circumstances and recaptured a man .whom the police authorities of Auckland have been eagerly awaiting a chance to renew acquaintance with. The first link was the attention of the nightwatchman at Montgomery’s garage being attracted late on Monday evening hv a loiterer in the vicinity wearing an oilskin coat. On Tuesday morning it was discovered that a burglary had occurred in the garage and Detective Sinclair, a recent arrival in Nelson from Auckland, was telephoned for. On arrival the detective obtained fingerprints made by the burglar, and during the inquiries gave an opinion that the culprit was identical with a man who had been, busy recently in an outlying district. While on a recent visit to Takaka a local cycle dealer had heard of offences that had occurred and that suspicion was resting on an individual who had expressed the intention of securing a motor cycle. Upon the dealer’s return lie warned hi partner not to make a sale to the suspected person, and was told that lie was an hour too late—a motorbike had been sold on Monday morning to a purchaser answering the description given. Cash and a puslibh'kc had been the medium of exchange. A ring on the telephone to (lie police followed, and the make and number of the cycle were given. While Detective Sinclair was in conference at the garage a ring came from Constable Berthelson at Port Nelson that a suspicious-looking man had entered the Customhouse Hotel. Upon hearing this. Mr Montgomery's service manager (Muir McLaren) jumped into a car, and proceeded with the detective to the hotel, where*the latter entered and found the “suspect” was not the person wanted. Just at this time Mr McLaren noticed a motorcycle go nnst and caught sight of the number (221PJ. Ho also saw that llio rider answered a description of the man wanted. Ho gave the alarm, and Detective Sinclair and Constable

Berthelson jumped into the car which

sped in pursuit so rapidly that the motor cyclist was headed off at Tahumanui in the vicinity of “The Hut.’ To the detective’s astonishment he recognised that he had recaptured a much-sought after prison-brcahoi fiom Auckland. _______