THROUGH THE WINDOW.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 48, 26 February 1923, Page 4

THROUGH THE WINDOW.

PRISONER ESCAPES FROM TRADf. DESPERATE CBIMIXAL AT LARGE. EASY TRICK REPEATED. A long-sentence prisoner escaped from the Main Trunk express at Newmarket early yesterday morning, and made a clean getaway, leaving two very perturbed warders to mourn his loss. The prisoner. James Williams, was reeen'ly convicted of theft from the person, sentenced to twelve months" imprisonment, and declared an habitual criminal. He was lieing brought from Wellington with two other prisoners in charge of a couple of warders, to "be incarcerated at Mt. Eden. When the express drew into Newmarket Station yesterday morning. Williams asked permission to use the lavatory of the second-class carriage containing the sombre party. This was accorded., one of the warders standing outside. While he watched the door the prisoner got out through the window and no sign of him could be seen, lie was attired in civilian clothes and evidently mingled with a number of other passengers who alighted at Newmarket, and walked off the station. Scores of police were scouring city anil suburbs for Williams yesterday and last night, but he could not be located. He has a number of friends about Auckland, some of whom, it is said, would be glad to hide him from the police. Williams is .ili years of age, and a native of Tasmania. He is of medium build, has a fresh complexion, with fairish-brown, Iliin hair, and grey eyes: weight 11 stone. He has served sentences for crimes both here and in Australia, and has passed under the aliases of Hayes. Holmes and Montgomery.

When he made his escape yesterday, Williams was wearing a light grey suit, marked veith very small checks, a light felt hat, collar, bow tie and black boots.

It is a remarkable thing that a little over a year a»o a prisoner named George Caffrey. a Norfolk Islander, made an escape from the Main Trunk express at Newmarke'. going South, in a similar manner — through the lavatory window —- leaving a very perplexed policeman to return empty-handed to Auckland and report his loss, f affrey was not rearrested until gome months afterwards, and then he put up a desperate struggle with a policeman who found him in an hotel.