SEARCH FOR PRISONER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1031, 23 July 1930, Page 1

SEARCH FOR PRISONER

DETECTIVES SCOURING AVONDALE PROBABLY GONE SOUTH Detectives are Searching the Avondale district today for signs of Francis Gomez, the prisoner from Mount Eden Gaol who escaped from the Auckland Hospital early on Sunday morning. Reports came to the police yesterday that a man answering the prisoner's description had been seen near the Zoo and also at the Westmere Estate. A butcher's shop near the Zoo had been broken open and several pounds of sausages stolen. These clues were followed by a strong body of police, which searched the locality yesterday, but the theory is strongly held that Gomez is on his way South to Wellington, where he is known to have friends.

Shortly after Gomez made his escape from the hospital, a motor-car was reported missing from Great South Road and the man is a motor-driver bjr occupation. What makes it more probable that he has gone South is the report of the Huntly police that the number-plates of a motor-lorry, owned by Mr. J. T. Holland, of Klmlhla, were stolen on Monday when the vehicle was parked near the railway station. The car missing from Auckland Is h green Bulck three-seater belonging to Mr. G. E. Hunter, of 331 Great South Road. Its registration number was 7-795, but, if the theory that Gomez stole the new plates at Huntly while driving South in the Bulck is correct, It will now bear the number 39-730. It Is thought that Gomez stole the lorry plates to replace those of the Auckland car. All country police stations have been Instructed to keep a keen look-out for Gomez, whose photograph and description have already been published in Tha Sun. ,