A PRISONER'S ESCAPE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1916, Page 5

A PRISONER'S ESCAPE.

SHORT BUT LIVELY FREEDOM. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Palmerston N., Last Night. A prisoner, who had been committed for sentence at Napier on charges of false pretences, and was being escorted to Wellington, made a sensational escape. As the Napier mail train neared Palmerston this afternoon the prisoner complained of indisposition and was escorted to tl\e lavatory, one constable taking guard Jutside, while the other remained in the carriage. The constable on guard outside, becoming suspicious, found that the prisoner had escaped through the small lavatory window. lie immediately told his companion, and 011 the train reaching :Palmerston a thorough search was made of the platform and railway line, but the prisoner had made good his escape. The sequel was equally sensational. About the same time a local taxi-man, in response to a telephone call, went to a family hotel and found a well-dressed man, who asked to be taken at once to Woodville. The journey was undertaken, but on Woodville being readied the man explained to the taxi-driver that he had been unfortunate enough to leave the bag containing his cheque-book behind. The taxi-driver lent the man his own cheque-book, and the passenger wrote a cheque for £3 and borrowed two shillings for a shave, also two or three blank cheques for immediate use. Tile circle of police stations 'had, in the meantime, been apprised of the escape, but too late to prevent the prisoner having a shave and tea at Woodville and hiring a taxi to speed away into the Wairarapa, where be waa arrested at seven this evening. Tbe prisoner will be taken to Wellington to-morrow.