CRIMINAL’S DISGUISE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1930, Page 3

CRIMINAL’S DISGUISE

GAOL ESCAPE TRAGEDY. .. ADELAIDE, August 4. Following, on the pitched battle between the police and the four prisoners who escaped from Yatala Labour Prison quarry, when two of the prisoners were shot dead, a third was captured, and two policemen and two civilians were injured, the arrest of the fourth escapee, who, liis face powdered and rouged, was dressed as a flapper, provided further excitement, ill addition, another man was arrested and charged with having harboured a fugitive from justice. The battle with the police was con-

ducted on .the Alain North Road, near Nailsworth School. The men killed were:— Arthur Harold Harrison, aged 27, sentenced to three .years for burglary in November, 1929. John Eustace Newchurch, aged 27, a lialf-caste, who was serving three years and a half ~for unlawful possession, stealing.'a motor car, and a previous escape from Yatala, During the afternoon fighting the police captured . Joseph Dawson aged 27 who was...serving eight year’s imprisonment, for robbers’ under arms.. In the thick of the fight he threw -down-his g-un-and .surrendered.; That ieft only William Herbert Hayes,* -aged ,32-;;at largo. He,/too, had been- serving* a sentoned'-of eight A’bar s’ imprisonment for robbery under arms-. The two polieemen' ancl tlie .civilians won tided were . Joiui Robertson; ngjed 25, traffic constable, of Adelaide, shotgun pellets in lip and arm. * John L. Ruwaldt, aged 24, traffic constable, of Adelaide, shotgun pellets in left arm. ,\ , •

Wm. Ross Menadue, aged 42, lorry driver, of Sefton Park, lacerations to head, and chin, caused by. grazing of bullet,

J. E.,Gill, /plumber, shot in heel

CLEVER “MAKE-UP.”

Hayes was arrested .in a house in Chatiiain Street, Adelaide,. about 9.3 D at night by. Detectives , Cobb,Burke,

iundsaj’ and Plain-clothes Constable Phin.;, He: .was dressed as a flapper, with, .his face expertly painted and p.owdeved, . He wore a dress of print material, white shoes and stockings, and a smurt»small .black hat hid his close-cropped : hair. He made, no resistance,': and, • although lie was carefully .searched, he. did not have ally firearms' cbnce'aled about his clothing. Tlie-'fhvelling in which ’'Hayes was caught was.' occupied almost entirely •by half-castcs. The house was surrouiided aiul The'police entered a room Styled by the occupants the ctrawiiig rtooiii. The police had their revolvers draivil,, .expecting a fierce fight, but instead they,found the disguised Hayes sitting, on a sofa. The detectives kept ; , their revolvers levelled at,;H.a,yes while Jiq.was hamicuffed ,and searched.. He was. told , to stand up and obej/ed with surprising willingness. He said lie. did not intend to cause-any, bother, adding, “I’ve had. a good day.” . When the detectives were ready to move off with their prisoner they received'a shock to- hear Hayes protest that his shoes Wei-e' too flimsy to go out on the wet roadway. He said he declined to walk in the wet for anyone and if they wanted to take him they would have to carry him.

■This the detectives decided to do. One of their number bundled the “flapper” in his arms and carried him to the waiting patrol van. On the way lie pointed out the justice of his cause by remarking that the roadway really was very wet. ..

Hayes’, sang froid, amazed his captors. When handcuffed, Hayes, it -is said, remarked; “It is your win this time, boys,’.’ When being -searched lie admonished officers, for “treating.a member of-the fair sex with rank .discourtesy,” and pleaded: . “Remember I’m a woman, boys.” He spent the night in adotped attire. • .• Tn the ■ early part of the evening reports of Hayes being seen Were 1 received from several suburbs. The escapes caused a stir in official circles, and police may ask for an investigation into the whole affair. It is stated in one quarter that Yatala was undermanned in view of the large num, her <sf criminals imprisoned there, but the Chief Secretary (J. Jelley) said he believed the prison was adequately staffed. The Minister said, .however, that an inquiry would certainly be held. “If men are permitted .to work inopen quarries, it-is only to be qxpected;. that there -will be some breakaways,” he said., “The. only alternative is to keep the men in the cells,” He referred to the number of rebellions recently in prisons, in other parts of theworld, which lie said were bound to have some effect ,on prison discipline generally. - ; ... . When the ear returned to police headquarters the detectives again carried Hayes- to .the watehhou.se, .and alter be: had been .charged lie .was again carried to his cell. . ■ i A charge of escaping from legal custody was preferred against him. A similar charge had earlier been placed against Joseph. Dawson. IN COURT—ALL DRESSED UP.

Later in the night, after Hayes had been placed rsafely -under lock and key, the four police officers returned to the

house in Chatham Street. They alleged that: upon entering silently the second time they found a man attempting to dispose of a sawn-off shot gun and a bicycle. The man was arrested, and on being taken to the watchhouse a charge of harbouring a fugitive (from justice was preferred against him. The detectives state that the gun found in the house was loaded with! 12-guage cartridges filled with lead. Hayes, still wearing the women’s clothing in which lie was captured, and Dawson appeared at the Adelaide Police Court on charges of having attempted to murder a police constable and of having escaped from custody. At the request of the police prosecutor they were remanded. Charles Goetsch, 42, labourer, of Adelaide, charged with having harboured Hayes, was also remanded; Hayes was in a white straw hat, with pink roses, a stripped frock, and silk stockings. On returning to the cells he generously displayed his lingerie. “It was like war. Bullets were flying in all directions, both during the chase from Paynehain to Na lis worth-, and during the affray after: the pursued and pursuers left the cars,” said Constable Dohoney, of Payneham. “Newchurch was responsible for a rain of fire. It he had shot accurately lie would have got me off in. the • Nailsworth schoolyard, as I was not armed.” - While every police cdnstabJe did his- duty bravely and well, there were outstanding cases of individual heroism. In face of fire from the prisoners on tlic motor lorry, two sets of traffic constables, drove at either side of it and exchanged shots with the convicts After much manoeuvring one cycle swung behind the lorry. Constable Holloway jumped on the back of tlie lorry, climbed to the driver’s cabin, and after again calling on the driver t<> stop exchanged 'further shots with the men inside. Harrison and Newchurch then cob lapsed. Constable Denison boarded thf* lorry and brought it to a standstill