Buckley’s Trail

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 371, 4 June 1928, Page 1

Buckley’s Trail

GUN AND MOTOR CAR MISSING

Confusing Reports of Escapee

FE escaped prisoner, John Buckley, who is enjoying his twelfth day of liberty from Mt. Eden Gaol, has disappeared completely.

A high-powered motor-car was stolen from Omahu Road, Remuera, on Saturday evening, and as it had not been found to-day Buckley has been named as the person who took it.

There is no proof of this, though he is quite able to drive a car. It is thought by some people that Buckley is still hiding on the North Shore. As he knows every inch of the country it has been possible for him to elude the police and detectives who have been searching for him. The country is hilly and heavily wooded. In addition to this the searchers have received so many false reports of his whereabouts that these have become irksome and confusing. A few minutes after six o’clock on Saturday evening a strange man, with his felt hat drawn well over his eyes, entered a baker’s shop in Hauraki Street, Birkenhead, and bought a loaf of bread. He appeared nervous and kept his face in the shadow. His double-breasted coat and light, trousers were rather rough and dirty. He spoke only a few words. Mrs. C. Headland, who served him, has lived in th© district for many years and knows all the neighbours. This man, however, was unknown to her and she is convinced that he was the escaped prisoner, John Buckley. The police wer e informed as soon as the man had left the shop and plunged

into the bush across the road. Constable Bishop and helpers scoured the countryside all Saturday night, but found no trace. The bush is extensive, stretching from Northcote to Birkenhead, and including Kauri Gully. The car which was stolen from Renriuera on Saturday evening is a Packard, the property of Mr. Alfred P. Robinson, of Karaka. It bears the number 64-79 and the steering wheel is on the left-hand side. Another car, a three-seater Chrysler, the property of Mr. George Jackson, of 4 Douglas Road, Mount Eden, was also taken on Saturday night, but it was recovered later in another street in Mount Eden. Yesterday morning Mr. Alfred Parrish, son of Mr. Mark Parrish, of Northcote, visited his bach in Kauri Gully, near Gladstone Road. The place was in disorder and a small-bore gun and some ammunition were missing. It is believed that Buckley must have visited the bach on Friday evening, as the coat which was discarded by Buckley after he visited Mr. James Mays’s house has been identified by Mr. Parrish as one which had been left in the bach. Another coat was lying on the floor and had evidently been tried on by someone who, finding that it was too large, had sewed it up with a needle and thread. On the table of the bach was a pen and ink, and this is where Buckley must have copied Mr. Mark Parrish’s name on a blank cheque which was found later by the searchers. A close watch is still being kept in the Birkenhead and Northcote districts, but all police have been warned to watch the country roads for the missing Packard motor-car.