A SOLDIER'S ESCAPADE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 172, 29 December 1914, Page 4

A SOLDIER'S ESCAPADE.

HAS SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES,

- SUSTAINS SERIOUS INJURIES. t

By Telegraph—Per Preen Association, | Wellington, Last Night. To-day a member of the Expeditionary Force encamped at Trentliam came before the Magistrate's Court on twd charges. On the first of these—that ot drunkenness—he was convicted and dig' charged; but on the second—that jrf ohwne language in the was handed over to the mil'* ar y authorities to be dealt with "* t S ? r^ tr the Bench was carried out, and avi(l Reekie, a young UBsoldier, was taken to the Mount Cook Barracks. On his arrival there hft was set to work, but after a short time' he became seized with a devouring thirst, To quench this he broke awav from his, guards and rushed into town, it is stated, in search of some beer. Mount Cook; Barracks immediately communicated; with the local police station, but a tele--phone message a couple of minutes laterinformed the civil authorities that theescapee had been recaptured. This time> Leckie was put into a room on the tog storey of tho barracks, and it was supposed that he was in safe custody. The thirsty one, however, had resolved _t<» get away somehow. The ancient practice of knotting bedclothes into a Topeoccurred to him, and tho thought was instantly put into execution. Tying together some blankets that were in th« room, Leckie proceeded to lower himself to the grotmxL Unfortunately the tying had been done carelessly, a knot slipped, and the young follow fell heavily to the

ground. In his fall he struck once or twice B"amst some projections on the biiililiiij*, aiul was badly hurt. He was. taken to the hospital, whore a diagnosis-, showwl that he was suffering from concussfon and severe injuries to the internal organs. He is in a critical condition.