PRISONER ESCAPES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 301, 17 June 1912, Page 5

PRISONER ESCAPES

WHILE LEAVING COURT. QUIETLY MINGLES WITH THE CROWD. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, June 14. A quiet and very deft escape from custody was* perpetrated at the Auckland Police Court this morning by a young man named Charles John Brooks, twenty-five yeaTs of age. He was brought to court to answer a charge of having stolen from the s.s. Hauiti early this week a gold watch and chain, valued at about £SB, and 25s in money. He was remanded to appear on Friday, and in due course was filed out of the prisoners' room downstairs, in company with four or five other prisoners to march to the waggon, which was standing at the gate about twenty yards distant. Brooks apparently stepped quietly out of the line and identified himself with several members of the public who at the time were standing about the doorway and vestibule 'of the court, and through which the prisoners .had to file. The manoeuvre was so coolly and naturally done that his absence was unnoticed at the moment, ami it was not till the waggon reached ihe watch-house that he was missed. It was a clean get away for the time being. Brooks is ouiet.lv and inconspicuously dressed, which will not assist in 'his recapture. There is wgainst hirn, however, the fact that he is penniless.