Three Men Escape from Police Lock-Up

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 906, 25 February 1930, Page 1

Three Men Escape from Police Lock-Up

MOTOR-CARS BORROWED | FOOD TAKEN ON THE WAY I Press Association PUKEKOHE, Today. A sensational escape from the Pukekohe lock-up was effected by three absconders from the Weraroa Training Farm shortly after midday today. The three youths, Dennis Ronald Bissett, Eric Alfred Chapman and John Henry Wilson and two others, cleared out from the Weraroa Training Farm about midnight on’Tuesday last, their escape being aided by a key which one of the party manufactured. It is understood that they borrowed a Jewett motor-car from a nearby farm, and when half a mile along the road were chased by the farm attendants in another car. When racing along the road the car driven by the escapees broadsided in loose metal and the car stopped and the occupants jumped out, making good their escape in the darkness. The five split up into two parties, three coming north and two going elsewhere. The trio collected a wardrobe on their way, and, it is believed, boarded a truck on a goods train at Palmerston North labelled New Plymouth and left the train at Lepperton Junction. They then walked as far as Mount Messenger, where they hopped aboard a motor transport and reached Piopio. They gathered food at various stages of the journey and supplemented this by directing their attention to orchards. At Piopio they “borrow ed” a Dodge motor-car and drove to Te Kuiti and thence to Hamilton and Whatawhata, where they pbtained more food. They replenished their benzine supply by syphoning from the tanks of cars left unattended on the roadside. SECOND ESCAPE The party left for Onehunga, where they spent practically the whole of yesterday, and left in tile afternoon for the King Country, but on arriving at Pokeno discovered that their benzine was almost exhausted. They entered Mcßobbie’s Garage and lifted three cases of benzine. Mr. Mcßobbie observed the act and went full speed to Mercer to inform the police. He passed the trio on his journey, and accompanied by Constable Olson turned back, and the trio was arrested. They spent the night in the lockup and appeared in the Pukekohe Police Court this morning, charged with the theft of three cars, benzine the property of W. C. Mcßobbie, and as other charges were pending were remanded to appear on March 5.

They were placed in the Pukekohe lock-up shortly before midday and were to have been taken to the Auckland Prison by the 12.30 p.m. train. In the meantime, however, they forced the bars of the cell door and escaped. The police are scouring the district.