ESCAPED PRISONER

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 391, 24 March 1937, Page 4

ESCAPED PRISONER

W. J. Fox Committed for Sentence. At the New Plymouth Police Court yesterday, William Joseph Fox pleaded guilty to a charge of esoaping from lawful custody at Stratford on March 8. He was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence by the Magistrate, Mr W. H. Woodward S.M. Details of the escape were given by Warder A. McLeod, who was escort* mg Fox and another prisoner on the Auckland express. Neither prisoner wat' handcuffed, he said, and the three of them travelled in the front Part of the second-class car next the engine, their seats being next the lavatory. After using the ] avatory Fox returned .to sit on the seat next the window, which was open, as Fox had <a bad cough. At Stratford, the warder explained, a number of people entered the carnage looking for seatf. and. while that commotion was going on, a man on the platform tapped on the wintow asking if the seat next witness was engaged. "My attention was thus distracted ‘ a matter of seconds, and when I looked round Fox was not in his seat, ’ said witness. “The winUOW alongside Fox’s seat Was open but I could see no sign of him. 1 escorted the other prisoner to the Stratford police station and reported the matter.”

The .arrest of Fox in a house at Woodville was described by Detective • ■ Compton, Palmerston North Fox offered no resistance to arrest'.