A PRISONER S ESCAPE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1570, 29 June 1916, Page 3

A PRISONER S ESCAPE.

CUXXIXC ROGUE ELUDES HIS GUARDS. AXD TRICKS A TAXI-DRIVER. A prisoner named Marshall managed to effect an escape from the Xttpier mail train as it was approaching Palmerston Xortii tit about 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, but on account of the vigilance of the police, his liberty was of short duration, and he was recaptured near MasterTon on Tuesday evening.

Marshal], who had been discharged from the N.Z. Expeditionary Forcourts on several charges of forces, was recently before the Wellington Courts on several charges of forgery, uttering, and theft, some of which had been committed at Napier. After having pleaded not guilty, and having occupied the time of the Court for a much longer period than was necessary, he asked leave to enter pleas of guilty in each case. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, and remanded to Napier to appear on the other charges. Accompanied by an escort. Marshall behaved himself on the way down till the mail train wa.s approaching Palmerston at a fair speed. Suddenly he eluded his captors, and made a dive through one of the carriage windows and escaped. Endeavours wore made to recapture him at the time without result. On Tuesday evening word was received from Masterton that Marshall had been caught. DETAILS OF THE CAPTURE. Details of the prisoner's escape from the train show that the prisoner complained of indisposition, and was escorted to the lavatory, one constable taking guard outside the lavatory, and the other remaining in the carriage. The constable on guard outside, becoming .suspicious, found that, the prisoner had escaped through the small lavatory window. He immediateh Pod his companion on the train. Ou reaching Palmerston a thorough search was made of the platform and (he railway line, but the prisoner had made good his escape. The sequel was equally sensational. About the same time a Pal mersioii N. taxi-man, in response to a telephone call, went lo the Family Hotel, and found a well-dressed man, who asked (o be taken at om-e to Woodville. The .journey was undertaken; Iml un Woodville being reached the man explained to the taxi-driver that he had been unfortunate enough to leave a bag containing a cheque-book behind. The taxi-driver lent the man his own cheque-book, nnd the passenger wrote out a cheque for £5, and borrowed two shillings for a shave and two or three blank cheques for immediate use. A circle of police stations had in the meantime been apprised of the escape, but too lute to prevent the prisoner having a shave and lea at Woodville, hiring a. taxi, and speeding away into the Wairarapa, where he wa.s arrested at seven o’clock the same evening. The prisoner will he taken to Wellington.