“CAN YOU RUN?”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2282, 28 May 1921, Page 3

“CAN YOU RUN?”

HOW ALLEN WAS CAPTURED

Constable Madden's capture at Palmerston on Thursday of the escapee Allen, charged with burglary at Wanganui, was rather a remarkable feat for a" man of his years. On the previous evening a confectionery shop in Main Street had been broken into, and a quantity of chocolate and a number of packets of cigarettes stolen. Constable Madden was engaged making inquiries in connection with the burglary, and t tbe time in question was talking !i. m man in Vogel Street. While there his curiosity was aroused by bis seeing a wisp of smoke rising from a gorse hedge about 150'yards away, near the railway line. He then decided to investigate, and upon going over, noticed that the smoke was rising from the middle of the hedge. Looking over the hedge, he saw a young man lying securely hidden in a hole scooped out of the ground at the bottom of ilie hedge, enjoying a comfortable smoke. Lying on the ground near him were three cakes of chocolate, corresponding with those missed from the shop. The constable pulled the young man out of the hole, questioned him us to how he had come by the chocolate, his name, and where he came from. The man gave the name of Sanderson, and said he came from Dunedin. It was when charged with the burglary in the shop that he became active, and saying, “Can you run ” rushed fl-u-ay down the paddock with the constable in full pursuit. The young man soon found the right answer to his question, as Constable Madden caught him after a chase of about 100 yards. On recapturing his man, Constable Madden examined him, and found him to answer to the description of the escapee, Allen. lie found in his pockets five packets of cigarettes, some chocolate cake covers, and a box of matches corresponding to the goods stolen from the shop on the previous night. The man was taken to the police .station, where he admitted his identity as Robert Allen, and was formally charged with breaking legal cusr tody at Wanganui. Allen was unkempt in appearance, and suffered from wart of food. Donovan, his mate, when recaptured at Marton, said their idea was to reach the country round Levin and obtain work.

REMANDED TO WANGANUI

Palmerston N., May 27.

At the Police Court, Allen was remanded to appear at Wanganui on May 30th, Accused was committed for trial for the theft of cigarettes and chocolates from a sweet shop at Terrace End.