THE ESCAPED PRISONER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 41, 7 February 1908, Page 2

THE ESCAPED PRISONER.

RE-CAPTURED NEAR JIANAIA. A FIXE PEDESTRIAN ACHIEVEMENT. Search parties were out almost continuously from Tuesday till yesterday, looking for the prisoner .Joseph Thompson, who escaped from llie New l'ly : mouth gaol on Tuesday. Prom the outset it was plain that the escapee had made for the Yeah- road district, and from various reports the police had! little doubt that he was working round the coast. On Wednesday evening ho was furnished with a drink of milk at the Oakum factory, and later on ho visited an Oakum farmhouse. He next showed up at ltahotu, and yesterday

morning at Ii o'clock a man answering to his description was seen passing through Opunakc. Jle was evidently maintaining his fast walking reputation gained at the time of a previous, escape, when lie covered 70 miles in two dais and a night, keeping well in cover all Ihe time. l-'rom Opuuaki- the police got close on hio track, and Constable Hickman, of 'Opunakc, and Warder Downes, came up with the fugitive when about three miles from Mnnnhi. This showed that the man must have travelled very consistently, for the country he has passed thiuugh his been very rough. Altogether he traversed nearlv (10 miles in the two days. Mis punishment for breaking gaol at Waintapu eighteen months ago was an additional nine months added to Ilia sentence. He will be brought before the Police Court to explain his conduct.