PRISONER RECAPTURED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 171, 22 July 1930, Page 10

PRISONER RECAPTURED.

RAILWAY PORTER'S FIND.

STOWED AWAY IN DOG BOX.

HARD RACE WITH POLICEMAN.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. A sensational end to an escaped prisoner's brief period of liberty occurred on the arrival of the Limited express at Wellington this morning, when James Alexander Scorringe, who had escaped from the Waikune prison camp, National Park, was found by a railway porter in the dog box of the guard's van. Daring though the attempt had been, _Scorringe was .not. satisfied, and on being escorted to the police station he again made ! . v a determined bid for liberty.

It is , stated that Scorringe conceived the idea of stowing away on the Limited express when it stopped at National

Park in the early hours this morning, the only day of the week it does so. He opened the dog box with a broken file, an ordinary key not being necessary fqr opening the door, and then, for over six hours, lie lay cramped in the small stuffy compartment while the train passed through the cold hill country of the Main Trunk line.

Unfortunately for him he could only board the train on . the side, opposite to the platform at National Park, which, at the Thorndon Station, corresponded to the platform side. Therefore, ou the arrival of the express at its destination, he had,to await a favourable opportunity to slip out and make for cover. '■

After the van had been cleared of the passengers' luggage, a. porter, following the usual procedure, looked to see if there were any dogs in the box. He received a shock when he beheld a man inside. He immediately sought the assistance of the station foreman who, in turn, summoned one of three constables who were waiting on the station, and Scorringe was taken into custody. He was- being escorted along Thorndon Quay, en route to the police station, and on reaching the intersection of Davis Street he dashed away from the constable and ran in the direction of the wharves.

Athough Scorringe is a man of 23 years and of athletic build, the constable gave stern chase for about 200 yards and caught the escaping men just as he was in the act of scaling a wire fence and when clothing was caught on the barbed wire.

Scorringe. will he charged in the Magistrate's Court t'o-morrow with' havinc broken away from lawful custody.