MATTHEWS RECAPTURED.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 187, 8 August 1921, Page 3

MATTHEWS RECAPTURED.

TRACED TO OAMARU. CAUGHT OX THE BEACH. RETURNED TO SEACLIFF. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUXEDIN, Sunday. Reginald Matthews, the Timaru murderer, who escaped from the Seaeliff -Mental Hospital early on Friday morning, was captured between six and seven this morning. Matthews was first seen by two fishermen on the rocks near Oamaru. One fisherman was accompanied by his wife, who recognised the escapee and screamed. By this time a party of police from Dunedin and elsewhere were closing in on Oamaru, they having heard that Matthews had hoarded a goods train at Hampden at one o'clock in the morning and got off at Oamaru. When he saw he was recognised, Matthews started to run along the beach, and was chased and caught by Constable Aitchcson, who was assisted by the two fishermen. He was handcuffed and taken to the police station at Oamaru, and was returned to SeaelifT under escort to-day. Matthews offered no resistance. "I WISH I HAD A GU>~." He is supposed to have dropped on to a railway waggon at Hampden from an . overhanging tree. Before the police arrived oti the beach Matthews was ' accosted early this morning by two fishermen named Boustridge and Wardle, ' and was bailed up. He grabbed a stone, but did not throw the missile. Once in ' custod}', Matthews made the remark, ' "I wish I had a gun. I would have shot some of you." He was wearing four > singlets, and had dark trousers and boxing boots. He was a conspicuous figure and was easily recognisable. It appears Matthews went on board the Home liner Kaiapoi, which is lying at Oamaru wharf, but 'when he found : she was calling at Lyttelton he went ashore again, and was given a loaf of bread and a quarter of a pound of tea ' and 21b of sugar. He was not armed when arrested.