PRISONER ESCAPES AT PALMERSTON.

Shannon News, 16 September 1921, Page 1

PRISONER ESCAPES AT PALMERSTON.

LOCKS UP CONSTABLE AND BOLTS

Charles Henry Roxborough, a young man, is at present causing the Pak merston North police force much an xiety.. He was remanded on September 9th, to appear at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning to answer a charge of stealing, at Tokomaru, on June 21, a suit case and contents, valued at £l7 ss, the property of John Charles Abbott. He did not appear,, and it was ascertained that Rox borough had escaped from custody. Just on 3 o’clock on Tuesday afterv noon he requested a drink of water from the Constable on duty at the , Palmerston lock-up. Roxborough was i then pacing the confines of the highly- , walled cell-yard. ’ Whilst the unsuspecting constable’s ( attention was distracted for a moment, I Roxborough darted through the door., ■ But that is not all, for it is reported • that he.turned and Shot the bolt on the constable with lightning-like rapidity, thus affording himself a good start in the race for freedom. The imprisoned constable used his lungs to advantage, and soon told his woeful tale. Meanwhile, Roxborough had I put an appreciable distance between himself ,'and. the police station, and was well out of sight when the ‘search was commenced. The town-,was thoroughly scoured, and the search conlinues over a wide-spread area. The police know, from experience, that Roxborough is a ‘‘slippery customer.” Early in the present month Constable McGregor, of Shannon, was in Palmerston North, and, having a suspicion as to Roxbprough’s relations in a certain affair, questioned him in the street. Whilst the constable was examining % a £1 note which Roxborough possessed at the time, another pedestrian walked between the pair. Roxborough immediately ran away, and grabbing a bicycle, made good * his escape-from further questions. The \ policeman’s hot pursuit 'failed, and j lloxborpugh wended his way.,to the ;■ Dannevirke- district. Meanwhile a I warrant was issued for his arrest. He ] walked into the arms of Constable I Campagnolo in Dannevirke, but once [ again fleetness of foot, and his ability to clear fences and hedges and other [ obstacles with ease, came to his res- ! cue. An organised hunt by the DanI rievirke force was instituted, and t! liter drawing one or two blanks, they extracted,Roxborough froiu ai,t the Tipapakuku' district. He was s ibsequently remanded to Palmers:l -n North. Yesterday the charge against him Avas adjourned sine die.