A CHEAP JOY-RIDE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 71, 28 June 1916, Page 2

A CHEAP JOY-RIDE.

RAILWAY AND MOTOR TRIPS FREE. PER I*HEBB ASSOCIATION. Palmerston North, Juno 27. A prisoner, who had been committed for sentence at Napier on charges of false pretences, and was being escorted to Wellington, made a sensational escape. As the Napier mail train neared Palmerston this afternoon the jrisonei' complained of indisposition and was escorted to the lavatory, one constable taking guard outside, while the other remained in the carriage. The constable on guard outside, becoming suspicions, found that the prisoner had escaped through the small lavatory window. He immediately told Ids companion, and on the train reaching Palmerston a thorough search was made of ibe platform and railway line, but the prisoner had made good his escape. The sequel was equally sensational. About the same time a local taxi-man. in response to a telephone call, went to a family hotel and found a welldressed man, who asked to be taken at once to Woodville. The journey "as undertaken, but on Woodville being

| reached the man explained to the taxidriver that he had been unfortunate I enough to leave the bag containing t is ; eheque-bcok behind. The taxi-driver lent the man his own cheque-book, ard the passenger wrote a cheque for £5 and borrowed - L ,wo shillings for a .shave, also two or three blank cheques for immediate use. The circle of police stations had, in the meantime, been apprised of the escape, but too late to p'revent the prisoner having a shave and tea at Woodville and hiring a taxi

to speed away into the Wairarap'j, where Uo was ar'es'ed at .seven this evening. The prisoner will be taken to Wellington to-morrow.