TWENTY-FOOT LEAP

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 588, 14 February 1929, Page 1

TWENTY-FOOT LEAP

PRISONER’S SUBTERFUGE CAUGHT IN FEW HOURS Leaping from a window 20ft. ebove the ground, Bartholomew Mdlroy, aged 22, escaped from pclice custody yesterday afternoon and enjoyed a brief spell o' liberty until he was recaptured in Wellesley Street about 10.30 last evening. Mcllroy was remanded at the Police Court yesterday to appear on Monday, when he will face theft charges laroiring a sum of between £3OO and £4IW. On his arriral au the Central Police Station after the remand had been made, the man asked whether it *ouh be possible for him to collect bis belongings from the house where be had been staying in Ponsonby Road. He was driven to the house with Detective Hunt, and the two men went to a room at the rear of the bouse. There Mcllroy made a pretence of collecting his effects, and when near the window,', which was open, he suddenly sprang through, leaping to the back yard. 20ft. below. He was out of sight when the detective rushed to the rear of the house. Steps were immediately taken to wain suburban and district police stations, and a description of the man was circulated. Last evening Detectives Moon, Mills and Snedden were in Wellesley Street West w hen they law Mcllroy walking down the street. He made no resistance when accosted, and his arrest was easily effected. Ho was in possession of about £5. At the station Mcllroy said he was exhausted, He had had no sleep the night before as he was arrested in the small hours of the morning. In the Police Court yesterday, the chief detective said that Mcllroy had been making a big splash, as he had spent all his booty, amounting to over £4OO, in about a month, and when arrested had only 4s 7d in his possession.