A FLIGHT FROM JUSTICE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 24, 27 January 1906, Page 10

A FLIGHT FROM JUSTICE.

<Frem Onr Special corresponaeat.-;

Four months ago a man named Heath' field, who was committed to Cardiff Prison on a charge of theft, escaped from gaol. He has now surrendered himself, and his story of how he baffled pursuit for so long makes interesting reading. The manner of his escape from prison was simple. He found in the exercise yard three pieces of steeL and managed to slip one of them into the lock of his cell door, thus preventing the bolt shooting home when the door was closed. Waiting his opportunity Heathfield slipped out, forced the locks of two other doors, scaled the prison wall, ajid, boarding a passing car, was soon in hiding in - Penylan woods. Meanwhile his escape had been discovered, and the police at once instituted a vigorous search for the fugitive. The country for miles round Cardiff -was scoured by police on foot, horseback, and cycles, and on several occasions officers were within a few feet of their quarry. Finding the pursuit too hot for comfort Heathfield decided upon a ruse. He scribbled a few lines to his father intimating his intention of boarding a certain ship lying in ' the Routh Dock, and. gave it to a youth to deliver. As Heathfield hoped would be the case the young fellow promptly gave the paper to the police, who at once abandoned their search in the country and concentrated their attention on drawing a cordon round the docks. Heathfield then took a bold step. He returned to his own home, got a change of clothing, and actually walked out of the house under the very noses of a couple of policemen. Making his way to Newport the fugitive found work, and for a 'fortnight escaped observation. Then one of his mates recognised him, and finding that the man intended to give information to the police Heathfield slipped quietly away, and managed to reach Bristol, where he had the good luck to come across a small ship bound for France and in need of men. He joined the crew, and made the voyage to Franc* and .back. On his return to Bristol he heard that the hunt for him in Cardiff -was still in progress, so he joined a ship bound for Buenos Ayres. The captain recognised Heathfield soon after the ship sailed, and the fugitive was informed that as soon as the vessel reached Buenos Ayres he would be handed over to justice. The captain, however, seems to have relented, for Heathfield was allowed to leave tbe ship unmolested. Finding it impossible to get employment on shore, Heathfield decided to return home, and got a berth on board a steamer bound for Liverpool. One of the crew happened, however, to be in possession of a "Cardiff Mail" containing a photo of Heathfield and a full account of his escape ana chase. He soon "spotted" the new hand as the man "wanted," and told Heathfield brutally that he would have "that 'ere reward" when they got home. The fugitive, however, contrived to gel on the ri<rht side of the man ere Liverpool was reached, and once more escaped the threatened danger. From Liverpool he proceeded to Barry, and on the advice of a cousin residing there decided to give himself up. This he did a few days ago, after having travelled some 30,000 miles' since his escape. Asked what he considered his most narrow escape from detection, Heathfield said while in Newport he went to the public library to read the papers. He was looking over a reader's shoulders at his own photograph in a newspaper, when the man turned round and remarked that Heathfield bore a remarkable likeness to the illustration. Heathfield laughed the incident off, and succeeded in convincing the man that he had made a ! mistake