Escaped Prisoner Found in Dog-Box

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1030, 22 July 1930, Page 1

Escaped Prisoner Found in Dog-Box

CAUGHT BY PORTER LONG MAIN TRUNK RIDE Press Association WELLINGTON, Monday. A sensational end to an escaped prisoner’s brief period of liberty occurred on tire arrival of the Limited express at Wellington this morning, when James Alexander Scorringe, who had escaped from the Waikune prison camp, National Park, was found by a railway porter in the dog-box of the guard’s van. Daring though the attempt had been, Scorringe was not satisfied, and while being escorted to the police station he again made a determined bid for liberty. It is stated that Scorringe conceived the idea of stowing away on the Limited express when it stopped at National Park in the early hours this morning, the only day of the week that it does so. He opened the dogbox with a broken file, an ordinary key not being necessary for opening the door: and then, for over six hours, lay cramped in the small stuffy compartment while the train passed through the cold hill country of the Main Trunk line. Unfortunately for him, he could only board the train on the side opposite to the platform at National Park, which at the Thorndon station, Is on the platform side. Therefore, on the arrival of the express at its destination, he had to await a favourable opportunity to slip out and make for cover. SECOND DASH FOR LIBERTY After the van had been cleared of the passengers’ luggage, a porter, following the usual procedure, looked to see if there were any dogs in the box. He received a shock when he saw a man inside. He immediately sought the assistance of the station foreman, who in turn summoned one of three constables who were waiting on the station, and Scorringe was taken into custody. He was being escorted along Thorndon Quay, on the way to the police station, and on reaching the intersection of Davis Street he dashed away from the constable and ran in the direction of the wharves. Although Scorringe is a man of 23 years, and of athletic build, the constable gave chase for about 200 yards, and caught the escaping man just as he was in the act of scaling a wire fence, and when his clothing was caught on the barbed wire. Scorringe will be charged in the Magistrate’s Court tomorrow with having broken away from lawful custody. REMANDED FOR WEEK Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. James Alexander Scorringe appeared before the court this morning charged with escaping from prison on July 17. He was remanded for a week.