TASMAN VOYAGER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 March 1942, Page 3

TASMAN VOYAGER

4 EXTRADITION ORDERED FROM TASMANIA. CHARGE OF ESCAPING FROM BORSTAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) HOBART. March 16. Richard Cecil Humphreys, aged 22. - who was charged on February 23 with having stolen from Invercargill a 27foot auxiliary launch, in which he sailed the Tasman, is to be extradited to New Zealand on a new charge of having escaped from Waikeria Borstal Institution on September 20, 1941, while under detention. The original charge of having stolen the launch was withdrawn. He was proceeded against on two new Tasmanian charges, first, with being without lawful means of support, and secondly with having at Swansea stolen a knapsack valued at 10s. 6d. He pleaded guilty and convictions were formally recorded. Humphreys appealed to the Bench to permit him to join any of the Services rather than send him back to New Zealand, saying that he had already been in custody for a month. The magistrate replied that he would have liked to do that. He added that it was rather a pity that the New Zealand authorities were abandoning the more serious charge for another. The magistrate asked Humphreys why he had not joined the army in New Zealand. Humphreys replied that he had been working in a munitions factory. Detective-Inspector Fleming, in asking for an extradition order, said Humphreys had escaped from the Borstal institution, had taken the auxiliary launch and sailed it single-handed to Tasmania in 23 days. An escort would take him back to New Zealand in the earliest available ship. Humphreys was remanded for seven days.