AN EXCITING CHASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3611, 10 March 1927, Page 3

AN EXCITING CHASE.

THREE YOUTHS IN STOLEN CAR.

At the Levin Police Court yesterday morning before Mr. T. Brown, J.P., a lad named H. E. Allison, was charged with unlawfully converting to his own use a motor car, the property of T. C. Dawe, auctioneer, of Wellington, and was remanded till March 17 th.

The charge is the sequel of an exciting incident that began at Levin on ’ Thursday evening and ended at Rangitane some time later. It is alleged that Allison, with two other boys, effected an escape from the Boys’ Training Farm about three o’clock in the afternoon, and went into Levin. Mr. Dawe had left his Essex coach standing in Devon Street outsid'c the residence of Air. T. C. Gollins, -with whom he was spending the evening. AD. Harvey, who was also spending the evening at Mr. Gollins’ 'left- a Dodge sedan parked outside the residence also. At 9 p.m. the horn of the Essex car was heard 'sounding, but thinking it was some boy playing a prank, no notice was taken. At 11 p.m. however, the car was missing, and the matter was repoi'ted to the police. Thinking that the culprits would take the Foxton route, Messrs Dawe, Gollins, Tnlly and Harvey started in pursuit in the Dodge, sedan. Aleeting another motorist in the vicinity of Lindsay Road they made inquiries and: were informed that an Essex eioach had been met travelling at a high speed towards Foxton. They continued the chase overtaking the stolen ear at Oroua Downs. So as not to create suspicion, they continued on ahead, but the escapees | evidently became alarmed for they turned back and deviated into the Himitaugi-Pal-merston road. The chase was now on in earnest and at a. speed of 50 miles an hour the two cars raced on until at about 3 a.m., on reaching Rang-itune the Essex went into the ditch on the side of the road, at,the second bend and lbe three lads took to the paddocks. It was some time before the trail was again taken up, but Air. Gollins saw one of the boys outlined against the sky creeping along’ on his hands and knees. He immediately gave chase and captured the youth, and he was secured with a length of rope. Another of the boys in the meantime had made his way quietly back lo the road and was in the act of getting away in the Dodge car when he was observed by Air. Dawe. He left,the ear and raced down the road and had soon outdistanced his pursuers.

It. was a difficult undertaking to get the Essex back on the road and on this being accomplished it was found lo be damaged so that it could not be run under its own power. It was towed into Foxton and the party returned to Levin with their captive and handed him over to the police. The other two lads gave themselves up to the police at Palmerston North yesterday morning, and thus joined the other of their number who was already in custody.