THE ESCAPED PRISONER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 125, 18 May 1908, Page 2

THE ESCAPED PRISONER.

STILL AX LAIIGL. Per Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Up to the time of the closing of the telegraph office, the prisoner, William Smith, alias Archer, who made his escape on Friday by jumping from an express train, had not been re-captured. Largo parties arc scouring the country.

The convict Smith was only recently sent lo Waiotapu from New Plymouth (laol. Smith apparently gave the authorities reason to fear that he would strive to escape, and was therefore sent under Warder liicliards' escort, the intention being to lodge him in Sit Men Gaol. Full particulars of what happened on that eventful journey are now to hand. When'travelling between llunc-imaii and Uruvy, which are about a mile apart, Smith asked Richards to go to the lavatory with him. The warI dor unsuspectingly concurred, Smith, who was not handcuffed, going ahead. On reaching the narrow corridor, the prisoner disappeared. Kieliards thought he had gone into the apartment, but on looking for him failed to lind iiiin there. He then commenced a search of the train, and whilst he was engaged in this Drury was stopped at and passed before the hue and cry could be raised. By the time the warder realised that his man had jumped off the train it was too late to do anything but wait until Otahuhu, H miles on, was reached. Here ltichards duly raised the alarm, and the police authorities quickly got their suburban forces to work marching for Smith, Guard Craig, w/io was in charge of the train, states that it was going at between 35 and 40 miles

an hour at the time Sjnith was seen to jump off.