ESCAPED PRISONER

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20993, 21 December 1939, Page 8

ESCAPED PRISONER

WAIKERIA INCIDENT SEVERAL THEFTS COMMITTED HORSE AND BOAT CONVERTED The story of a prisoner’s theft* following his escape from the Waikeria Borstal Institution on December 4 were told before Mr S. L. Patterson, S. M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, today when Alfred Hicks Howell appeared on a number of charges. The counts against Howell were as follows: That, having escaped from the Waikeria Borstal Institution on December 4, he was an incorrigible rogue; that on December 5 at Te Rauamoa he stole a quantity of eggs, tea and sugar valued at ss, the property of William Hepi; that on the same date at Tq Rauamoa he stole a thermos flask, a pair of trousers, a cardigan jacket and 9d in money, of a total value of £1 5s 9d, the property of Clarence Schwartzfeger; that on December 6 at Te Rauamoa he converted to hi* own use a rowing boat, the property of Clarence Schwartzfeger; that on December 4 at Waikeria he converted to his own use a horse, valued at £3O, the property of the New Zealand Government. Howell pleaded guilty to all charges. Second Escape Senior-Sergeant G. H. Lambert stated that Howell was serving 12 months’ reformative detention and six months for escaping on March 9 last. On December 4 he escaped again. He took a horse belonging to the Prisons Department and rode it to Te Rauamoa, where he turned it loose. He then stole the property mentioned in the first theft charge and hid in the bush for some time. Later he stole some other goods from a motor truck and returned to the bush. When he took the boat he rowed to within a mile of Kawhia, and then continued on foot to the township, where he was identified by a constable and arrested. He was due to be discharged on June 7, 1940. In reply to the magistrate, Howell said he had nothing to say and he had no explanation to offer for his actions. “It seems to have been a silly thing to do,” commented the magistrate, “and it is difficult to know what to do with you. I cannot do anything less than extend your present term, and I am sorry to have to do that. I might be able to do something for you if I could see the motives for your actions, but I am afraid I cannot.” On the charge of escaping Howell was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, to commence at the expiry of the present term, and on each of the charges he was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, the sentences to be concurrent.