BREAK FROM CUSTODY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 155, 3 July 1922, Page 4

BREAK FROM CUSTODY.

PRISONER AT LARGE,

TAKES TO THE BUSH. FIRES OX HIS PURSUERS. ißy Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WANGANO, this day. The police were informed last night of a sensational affair having occurred at Raetihi. A young Maori named Joe Rawiri v;as apprehended on Thursday on charges of breaking and entering ana theft. When tro police were searching him at the station the Maori 'bolted for the door. A constable caught him by the coat, but the prisoner wrenched himself free and escaped. The police at Ohafcune, Taihaipc, and Wanganui were communicated with, and armed with revolvers several constables set off to scour the country. Yesterday they tracked the Maori into very rough country. When he saw that his whereabouts" was discovered he opened firo on hie pursuers with a 3.03 rifle. The bullets struck trees in the vicinity of the constables, but fortunately no one ■was hit. Constables McMullen and McCowan are said to have been the closest to the casualty list. The distance and conditions made the constables' revolvers ineffective, and before an encircling movement could 'be carried out Rawiri was off again. Details of a chase among the hills at Jlurumuru are very inadequate, telephonic conditions on the Wanganui-Raetibi line being at the worst. Last evening the police succeeded in securing possession of Rawiri's rifle, and anticipated, despite the nature of the country in which the Maori has sought refuge, to run the fugitive to earth.

j Ratriri is a young man, 3S years of age, fit and ''hard as nails." He figures prominently in the "Police Gazette," ■where he is described as 'being sft Sin in height, with dark brown eyes and broad nose. Up to now bis law-<breaking has (been confined to breaking and entering and theft, for which he has seven or eight convictions, and has been declare! an habitual criminal. He -ira-= released on probation in December, 1919, and broke his license.