A SENSATIONAL AFFAIR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 150, 28 June 1916, Page 5

A SENSATIONAL AFFAIR.

PRISONER ESCAPES FROM TRAIN. THEN DEFRAUDS TAXI-DRIVER. PALMERSTON N., June 27. A prisoner committed for sentence at Napier on charges of false pretences, who was being escorted to Wellington, made a sensational escape as the Napier mail train neared Palmerston this afternoon. Prisoner complained of indisposition and was escorted to the lavatory, one constable taking guard outside the lavatory, the other- remaining in the carriage. The constable on guard outside, becoming suspicious, found that the prisoner had escaped through the small lavatory window. He immediately told his companion on the train, and on reaching Palmerston a thorough search was made of the platform and railway line, but the prisoner had made good his escape. The sequel was equally sensational. About the same time, a local taxi man, in response to a telephone call, went to the Family Hotel and found a welldressed man, who asked to be taken at once to Woodville. The journey was undertaken, but on Vvoodville being reached the man explained to the taxi driver that he had been unfortunate enough to leave a bag containing his cheque book behind. The taxi driver lent the man his own cheque book and the passenger wrote a cheque for £5 and borrowed two shillings for a shave and two or three blank cheques for immediate use. The circle of police stations in the meantime had been apprised of the escape, but too late to prevent the prisoner having a shave and tea at Woodville and hiring a taxi to speed away into the Wairarapa. where he was arrested at 7 o’clock this evening. The prisoner will be taken to Wellington to-morrow.