Escaped Prisoner Still At Large

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 378, 9 March 1937, Page 4

Escaped Prisoner Still At Large

JUMP FROM TRAIN. PRISONER’S DASH Sensation At Stratford Railway Station. Only a few people among a Urge crowd gathered on th? Stratford railway platform last, night for the arrival of the Taranaki Aucklar<i exprest were aware of a sensaitional happening, that has in motion a w?despread police search, was being enacted. When, the train drew out of the platform not even ithe railway officials weise aware that William Joseph Fox, sentence ! recently at New piymouth for an aggravated assault on police officers near Whanganiomona, had escajped from custody.

Fox and another prisoner were in charge of a yarder, and were being taken to the Waikeria prison camp near Te Awamuti’. As bhe train was ap-proaching Stratfor J, Fox I d’: his seat to use the wash basin and he returned as the train drew into the station. As it stopiped he sprang through an open window and was lost in the crowd. The warder was handicapped with tftie charge of the other prisoner and a thorough search could not be undertaken until the prisoner had been placed in th a Stratford lock-up.

The New Plymouth police and M>* Dineen, su-perintemdent/ of the jail, were advised of Fox’s ..scape and a party at once set out for S-iraAtord, where the search bad been camiTcnced by Sergeant C. M. Ai/iss and Conetabu's W. Huuhes and W. Rae. A visit to a house revealed no trace of Fox and nothing was seen by Constable Rae, who kept the place uiiJer observation. A visit was paid to a friend of the escaped man at Wharehuia and tv'o of Vie police visited Inglewood. AU exits of the town were waibched and all cars were stopped. On the chance that Fox had r joined the train Constable Johnston, at Whangamomonja, was comtnunicated with but he had nothing to revert. At Taumarunui, Constable Hedley interviewed Tie guard of the train, but tlr re was no hiformation that Fox had been on the tia n after if Jeft Stratford.

After an all-night vigil an intensive search for the escaped prisoner was commenced to day. Under Sergeant Anniss 14 police are operating throughout Taranaki. It was deflniVly learned to-dry that at about 9 o’clock last night Fox visited a house on Brecon Road occupitfd by bis wife, and in addition to the grey suit Tie was wearing at the time of f iiis escape he is now in possession of a blue suit, brown trousers and grey cap. He is also carrying an attache case. Immediately the nolice were advised last night Shat Fox bad- escaped a visit was paid to the Brecon Road house and from information gleajned to-day it appears that Fox had left -only about) 10 mi'nutes before the arrival of the police.

The police station was the scene of considerable activity tnroughouil today. A cordon of police patrols travelled the roadt giving egress trom the Stratford district and communication v as maintained with the police statlion. A police party went to Whaiigamomona district to the farm formerly occupied by Fox but it was expected that the jeurney would take some tiime owing to a bridge being washed away on tn'? Whanganiomona road. Unless some form o- transport can be arranged it will le n cesssry | for ’the poll :e tc walk six miles to the farm. Several reports were received this afternoon froim patrols indicating Che . omipletion of .the area-s. aUdtted to them and where possible the men were taken off duty to allow them to obtain a much needed rest. Some had been without sleep for nearly thirty hours. At. three o’clock to-day »Fox Tiad not be? n located. I As if. is considered that Fox is of a possibly dangerous character the Police have requested that residents notify the Stratford police station of iihe presence of anyone answering Fox's description. Fox was wearing a dark grey suit and fight felt hat when he made h'3 escape. A' native of New Zealand, he is 44 years of ,rg« land sft. B|in. in height. He has brown hair ,and bim eyes r|nd distinguishing marks are an injured right ear and a left forefinger vVith the tip missing.