SPANISH PRISONER

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1933, Page 8

SPANISH PRISONER

EUROPE’S MILLIONAIRE FUGITIVE

STORY* OF DRAMATIC ESCAPE

Many years ago a confidence trickster invented the tale of a Spanish prisoner, of . great .wealth as. a means extorting money. To-day the story has come true, and,, is told by the-prisonei himself, one of the richest men in Europe s who has recently escaped under the ipost dramatic circumstances. Sefior Don Juan Marcli, '.the millionaire -royalist, s a .sick /man, after 18 months’ confinement in a Spanish prison, according to the Sunday Graphic,, reached Gibraltar on November 4. - - ' ' ’ ■

Senior March. had hoped that the Spanish authorities would set him free. This did not happen,’’ he said, “and therefore j I was disillusioned and tried to ' escape. I succeeded in convincing the adjutant of the prison, who told me the ill-treatment to which I had been subjected prompted him to help me.’ ■ ■'" . . ' ;

•Senior Vargas- let mb out of the prison and a car was awaiting me 500 yards up the road from the gaol. Owing to my failing health and the illtreatment which I had suffered in prison, I was unable to walk. The gaoler, Senor Vargas, helped me to reach the car and theh expressed his willingness to accompany me, saying that he was a great admirer of mine.’' The escaped man was wearing prison uniform trousers, which he changed on reaching Gibraltar. He succeeded ih passing the frontier gates without being recognised or challenged by the Spanish authorities. The future plans of the escaped man were at the time undecided. From Madrid came 1 word that the. Ministers announced that they would apply to the British Government for the mau’s extradition.