THE LOST PRISONER.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9368, 10 February 1909, Page 5

THE LOST PRISONER.

M'NEIL IN TARANAKI. Messrs Butler and Blair, two officers of Wellington prison, have returned from a fruitless search for the prisoner Archie )M‘Neil, who escaped some days ago from the gaol. They tried to intercept M'Neil at the Torakina river, but were too late, as ho bad passed along 48 hours earlier mounted on a big bay horse. He was then wearing riding breeches and gaiters of a conspicuous pattei’n. Next he was heard of as having stayed with Mr Simpson, of Heaton Park, on the coast, about six miles from Turakina. To Mr Simpson M'Neil described himself as a surveyor, and he assumed the airs of a professional man. Still going north, M‘Neil next visited Mr D. M l In tosh, whose place is seven miles this side of Wanganui. He arrived apparently very tired, and his mount was done up. “You appear to have come a long way?” Mr M‘lntosh observed. “From Feilding,” M'Neil,replied. “I’m a horse-dealer,” ha added later on, “and with that horse there I won the high jump at the show. Yes, it’s a long ride here from Peilding. What is it; fifty miles?” That night M‘Neil was the guest of Mr M’lntosh, and after supper was given a good bed. He rose early next morning at three o’clock, Mr M‘ In tosh believes; but before he went he skimmed all the cream off the dishes. He has been seen in the Hawera district, and ;it is believed that he has made for the bush between Tanmaranui and Taupo. Tho police in the King Country are on the look out, expecting to him in tiieir district. A farmer at Peilidng, not knowing anything about M‘Neil’s antecedents, complained to the police that a 'man had borrowed a horse and a pair of leggings. He said he was a surveyor, and would return them shortly. He had nod been seen by the farmer up to the time the loss was reported.—Post,