ESCAPED CONVICTS

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 57, 9 March 1899, Page 2

ESCAPED CONVICTS

AN UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday. j Great interest was centred in the | arrival of the steamer Rippingham j Grange, which called here this after- j noon en route from Tchio, New Cale- ! donia., to London, to coal, as it was reported that three escapees from the French convict settlement were on . board. The local police were on the | alert, and boarded the vessel without delay. Chief-Detective Campbell was : in command of the police, and was \ assisted by Detectives Nixon and Bro- , berg, Sergeant-Major Mason, and Constable Murphy. A." most minute search was made without the discovery of the men wanted, though Detective | Campbell asserts that the captain of the vessel admitted to him they were on board. Campbell at the same time admits that he did not question the captain on the point that knowing the men were escapees from custody" they were not secured, with the view of handing them over to the police, here. Towards dusk Campbell, Mason, and Murphy returned to shore, leaving Nixon and Broberg to continue the search, and shortly after nine. p.m. they were reinforced by Campbell and four or five constables. | Every nook and corner is being viewed, j but the police fear that some of those j on board are secreting the escapees. Before the vessel left Tchio there were five escapees on board, but the native police discovered two. One was stowed away forward and the other, hidden in the coal, was only brought out when stabbed through the jaw with a spear which is used to pierce the coal. For two days a search was made for the others without avail. The steamer leaves for London tomorrow.

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day. The police have abandoned all hope of arresting the New Caledonia es- ■ capees supposed to have been con- • celled in the coal bunker?, one being In French count. Chief-Detective i Campbell was aboard the .vessel all i night. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. At noon search is still going on for ; the escapees. The captain admits seeing them on board as late as yesterday. He says ne specially asked the ! police at Tchio if he wns expected to put the men in irons should they appear, and the commandant said, 'No, they were not going to trouble fnrtber about them.' ' The French Consul, however, says this cannot be correct, :as from his advices the authorities I were particularly anxious to capture the men. As no warrants arrived, the men, if caught, can only be treated as : stowaways. It is believer! they have ' :i hiding' place under thR coal, which, ;of course, must have been specially . contriver! for them by collusion. They ■were not landed at the heads, as the \ signalman watcher! the. vessel carefuli ly. and a mounted policeman patroljled the beach. .