TARRIED IN HOTEL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 80, 5 April 1943, Page 4

TARRIED IN HOTEL

TWO GAOL ESCAPEES

STOLE CHANGES OF ATTIRE

Two Maori prisoners who recently escaped from tlie Auckland prison faced charges, arising from their escape, in the Police Court this morning before Justices. They were Hugh Simons and Stan Repia. In addition to the escaping from custody charge, they admitted three charges of theft from dwellings.

According to their statements they arranged together, on Simons' suggestion, to escape from the prison quarry at the first opportunity. The chance came on March 18, when they were working together in the quarry. While the guard's back was turned they jumped over the fence into the Grammar School grounds, and made their way to a side street, and eventually to Remuera, where they entered a house and stole clothing, leaving their prison garb behind. They then went to Panmure, where they entered another house and exchanged some more articles of clothing, also taking some small items. Further on they went to a third place, which was a Chinese market gardeners', and there Simons broke a window and entered, while Repia kept watch. Simons took a suit of clothes, a Chinese 10-dollar note and £3 in money. Their intention had been to make their way to Otahuhu, and thence to Hamilton, where they had friends. They walked along the railway line to Otahuhu, and there entered an hotel, where they remained till closing time. They were picked up by the police immediately afterwards.

Both men were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.