FOX FOUND AT WOODVILLE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 380, 11 March 1937, Page 5

FOX FOUND AT WOODVILLE

SURPRISE CAPTURE SMART POLICE WORK Passing Motorists Helped * Him on Journey. (“Central Press” Special.) Palmerston N., To-day. At the Palmerston North Police Court this morning, William Joseph Fox, who escaped sensationally from the train at Stratford on Monday night, was charged with attempting to escape from custody, and was remanded to appear at New Plymouth.

The hunt for Fox ended late yesterday afternoon when, after a day’s search by a detachment of police spread net-like over the countryside under the direction of Inspector J. Cummings, of Palmerston North, he was surrounded and captured in a house just outside Woodville, where he had taken refuge in the absence of the occupants.

Early yesterday morning Inspector Cummings was advised that Fox was making his way toward Feilding afoot. Sergeant M. J. Angland and others went out searching for him, while from Palmerston North Inspector Cummings and 16 constables in six cars set out to surround Fox at all possible points. At 10 a.m. he was reported to be on the way to or in the vicinity of Woodville. The man-hunt continued until 4 p.m., when it was learned that Fox had taken refuge in a house half a mile to the north of Woodville. Careful plans were then made by Inspector Cummings to secure Fox with minimum trouble. The house was approached cautiously from all points, various places of concealment being scoured carefully before the house itself was completely surrounded by Inspector Cumming’s party, consisting of Sergeant Angland, Detectives O. Power arid E. Compton (Palmerston North), Constables G. E. Chapman and G. W. Bowley (Palmerston North), C. H. Turnbull and Johnson (Feilding), and L. Skinner (Woodville). Every man did his allotted job in a carefully-executed plan to perfection.

The house was entered by Detective Compton and Constable Chapman, who closed on Fox before he had any chance to resist, and he surrendered without a struggle. He was brought to Palmerston North jail by car at 6 p.m.

The capture of Fox was a particularly smart piece of police work, calling for the exercise of skill and courage.