ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 12 January 1931, Page 6

ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY

RUNAWAY RE-CAPTURED (By Telegraph—Preßa Association) AUCKLAND, 9th January. Ten months ago an Australian named Reginald Kennedy appeared in (tlie Police Court on a theft charge, was remanded in the custody of the Salvation Army, and escaped the same day. No trace of him could be found until this morning, when he was cleverly re-arrested. Kennedy appeared before Mr Cutten, S.M., charged with stealing a cashbox containing money from a shop in Newton road.

The police asked for a remand so that inquiries could be made about the accused, and Captain Holmes, of the Salvation Army, said he was prepared to take the accused into the Army Home until the police were ready to go on with the case. That night Kennedy escaped, and it is alleged that he took the cashbox with him.

Before Kennedy was handed over to the care of the Army his photograph and his finger prints were taken by Detective-Sergeant lesell. Two days after Kennedy’s escape word came from Wellington that there was reason to suspect that according to the photographs and finger prints Kennedy was known to the police ill South Australia.

Months passed, and Kennedy could not be found. A few days ago, it is believed, he came back to Auckland. An associate of Kennedy’s was watched by Acting-Detective Hamilton and followed to a house on College Hill. The detective caught a glimpse of Kennedy, but could not be certain of his identity. Detective-Sergeant Issell and Detectives Stevenson and Hamilton went to the house this morning. Mr Issell picked his man, and the rest was easy.