PRISONER ESCAPES

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 818, 24 March 1910, Page 3

PRISONER ESCAPES

POWKLKA’S SKCOND DASH FOR LIBERTY.

Yesterday morning about 9 o’clock Joseph Powelka, a prisoner who awaits his trial on several charges of burglary and theft at Palmerston, escaped from the Lamblou-quay police station. This is the second occasion on which Powelka has made a dash for liberty since he was arrested, the first time being iu Palmerston, when he escaped from gaol aud gave the police some trouble to recapture him. Accused was brought down from the Terrace Gaol iu the morning, to appear at the Magistrates Court when his remand to Palmerston was to be asked for. While iu the cell, he received a temporary companion in the shape of a man who arrived from the suburbs to-day iu charge of a constable. Shortly after the prisoner was sent for to be examined iu the watebhouse, and the arresting constable, it is said, took the key, brought his charge out, aud locked the door, as he thought, behind him. The lock was a Yale lock of peculiar combination. When the cell was next visited, very soon after, the door was shut, but Powelka was missing. Apparently he had tried the door, found it not locked, came out —taking the precaution to lock the door behind him—and scaled the adjoining wall. At time of writing, though a thorough and immediate search was carried out, the escapee's whereabouts had not been ascertained. It is thought that he must have had at least five minutes start of his custodians.

Powelka is a dark man, six feet in height, slimly built, of sallow complexion, and hollowcheeked. He is said to be wearing a grey coat and vest, trousers of a green shade, a collarless soft shirt, and blucher boots. He is (0/ was) without a hat, aud has not been shaved for a month. It is believed that he has little knowledge oi the city’s by-ways.