FOUR YEARS' LIBERTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 188, 11 August 1930, Page 7

FOUR YEARS' LIBERTY.

ESCAPEE SURRENDERS.

"WANTED TO CLEAR THE MATTER UP." COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. ■ (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) OHRTSTCHURCH, this day* After four year's of liberty Leo Sylvester Hannan, who escaped from the Rangipo prison camp on July 12, 102(5, gavo himself up to the police. He appeared this morning before a. riiagistrato on a charge of escaping" from custody. He pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence. In a statement to the police Hannan, who had been imprisoned for the theft of beer from a hotel, said he felt unwell in the prison camp and therefore escaped. He travelled into the country and had -worked on the Hauraki drainage works for a time. Lately he had been worrying over his escape, and so decided to give himself up. In a .statement made to Hie police at Duncdiu accused said he had lived an upright life since he escaped. The company he had got into was responsible for his troflble, together with drink. He had learned a lesson and intended to go straight. "Your Worship," said accused, "I would just like to say, that 1 wanted to clear the matter up, so I gave .myself lip to the police. I am not of a criminal nature. The whole trouble has been due mainly to , drink." "There is not very much in that," replied the magistrate, "because if you are a man at all you can leave drink alone."

"I liave overcome that weakness now, your Worship," said accused.