GAOL-BREAKER RE-CAPTURED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1018, 2 November 1912, Page 3

GAOL-BREAKER RE-CAP-TURED.

CLEVER POLICE RUSE

Whangarei, Oct. 31.

Houston, the escaped prisoner, was re-captured by Detective Hollis and Constable Douglas this afternoon, on the foreshore, sixteen miles from Whangarei, The capture was cleverly effected, Houston falling into a trap. He had previously been seen on the opposite side of the harbour, an i. intimation was given to the police, who followed up the clue, but avoided revealing themselves, fearing that the escapee would take to the dense bush, where he could easily have concealed himself. The police crossed the harbour, watched no doubt by Houston, and a confederate was bribed to approach in a boat. Houston eventually appeared, and accepted the boatman’s offer to ferry him across. On disembarking he was promptly pounced upon by Detective Hollis and Constable Douglas. Houston admits his re-capture was smart work, adding that in the course of his long career he bad broken gaol twelve times. Sergeant Moore proceeded in a special launch to Harsden Point, and in order to avoid a large crowd which had gathered, he brought the launch up a side creek, and took prisoner by a back way to the cells. Houston appeared very weak and footsore, and secured the sympathy of the onlookers by his dejected appearance. Elaborate precautions have been made to keep him in c ustody.