SOON RECAPTURED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 184, 7 August 1933, Page 8

SOON RECAPTURED.

ESCAPED PRISONER.

FOUND AT BELIEF CAMP.

William Henry Charles McKay, aged 29, the prisoner who jumped from the express at Mercer early on Saturday morning, while being cscorted to Auckland, was recaptured at 7.30 on Saturday evening at the Mangatawhiri Beach relief camp, not far from Mercer.

McKay was sitting in the sixth eeat ' from the door of the second carriage from ' the engine. There were three warders in i charge of hirn and the prisoners. As the I train was moving ont of Mercer station, j McKay made a quick clash from his scat, 1 opened the carriage door and jumped to the ground, shimming the door after him. By that time the express had l gathered speed, making it too risky for anyone to jump off in pursuit. It was not until Pukekohe, the next station, was reached, 25 minutes later, that the alarm could be given. As soon as he received word of the escape, Constable IT. J. Olsen, of Mercer, searched the hills above the Mercer railway station, and he was joined later in the morning by Detectives T. W. Allsop, L. Wilson and Miller, who - were dispatched in a motor car from Auckland. McKay was seen by the wife of a settler making his way across country towards the Paeroa-Pokeno Road. Going to the top end of Ivoheroa Road, the police- party worked their way back to Mercer, searching the scrub country on both sides of the road. They returned to Mer'-jr at 0 p.m., without having seen the escapee. As the result of information received, they went to the relief camp, and there found the fugitive seated, talking to a number of the relief workers. He submitted quietly to recapture, and was later brought to Auckland by the detectives. Escapee in Court. McKay appeared in the Police Court before Mr. W. R. McKeau, S.M., this morning, on a charge of escaping from lawful custody. On the application of Detective-Sergeant O'Sullivan, McKay, who is at present serving a sentence of six months' imprisonment, imposed recently at Christchurch, was remanded until August 14.