MAN HUNT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18486, 14 September 1925, Page 6

MAN HUNT.

, 4 PRISONERS RECAPTURED. CLOSING THE NET. DARING PLANS MISCARRY. (raess association TBLtoßi.it-> AUCKLAND, September 12. Since Brasting and o'*-ien escaped from the city police station colls, in companv with Hansen, who was recaptured shortly afterwards, a human not has been gradually closing in upon them. To-day at 1 p.m. they wero tracked to their hiding place on the ton of a hill near Pakuranga, known as Pigeon Mountain, and Constablo kennedv, of Howick, handcuffed them, with the assistance of three civilians, soon after 10 p.m. . When the escape of the three criminals was diK-overed. the telephone and telegraph lines began to got busy. Every police officer for miles around was warned and s-oecial instructions were issued a spociaTeearch planning instituted. Chief-Detective Cummings took charge, and wftfiin a few hours his men had picked up the scent. Devonport, Takapuna, Onehunga, and Howick were the districts -that were set down for special investigation, but the detectives quickly ascertained that Brasting and O'Brien had made off in the direction of the last-mentioned centre. Tito net began to close in. Working with electric torches, a large body of detectives began to comb the beach and tho rough, open country near Pakuranga. To keen the escaped men inland was the object of the police, and v working on a system, they felt confident they wero getting "hot." Tell-tale Smoke. Their 6urmise proved correct. Since Constable Kennedy reported that ho was certain tho two men wore in the vicinity, under Chief-Detective Cummings, Detectives Robinson, O'Sullivan, O'Brien, Meiklejohn, and Nattier worked hard throughout the night. With the dawn there was no sign of the wanted men, but the police had found certain signs, unmistakable to the trained eye, that led them unerringly on towards Pigeon Mountain. The hill was encircled and tho net began to close in. Three civilians reported that they had seen smoke on the top of the mountain, and this confirmed the theory held by the police. With Constable Kennedy, the civilians went up the hillside, making for tho point where smoke liad been seen to rise. ]£ was now after midday. The remainder of the searching party closed in, some coming through the quarry near which tho hill, is situated. Reading Newspaper.

At 1 p.m. Constable Kennedy saw the two escapees. As yet they were unaware that their pursuers were so close. The pair were quietly leading a newspaper, haying taken cover in a depression near tho toy of the hilL From this point they had a fine lookout over the surrouiiding country, but they were apparently tired of watching, and were more interested in tho trend of affaire back in the city. However, tbey kept their noses into the paper till Constable Kennedy and the civilians came upon them.. No resistance was offered, and the gyves were snapped on without ado. The two men, who had been sitting together, were.dressed in rowing jerseys, and were well supplied with blankets. Other evidence went, to show that they had thought themselves secure for awhile atop of Pigeon Mountain, and, they load evidently intended to camp there till the hue and cry hnd abated. J net; as tho arrest was effected, the police,' under Chief-Detec-tive Cummings, olosc3 in, so that recapture would have ensued in any case. Detective O'Snllivan and tho ChiefDetectivo took the men down the hill. They complained that they 'were hungry. Hanson wag recaptured on the night of his escape somewhere along the waterfront. All three men are now in Mount Eden prison. Going- to Sea iri Tne doings of the two men since their sensational escape make an astonishing story of resourceful daring, and frustrated plans. A despe'rate attempt to flee the land in '* small row-boat, fitted with an auxiliary engine, received aid and connivance from more than one friend and abettor, and was only defeated by the astute foresight and vigorous intervention of the detectives. Having made good their escape about 10.30 o'clock on Wednesday night, the prisoners' immediate aim seems to have been to lay hands on a boat and put ti> sea. Both men are accustomed to the water, Brasting, especially being a good yachtsman and resourceful in handling any kind of boat. During the first two davs of their liberty, the prisoners were known to bo in hiding at ISorth Shore, as cunningly placed police pickets interrupted messages that passed between them and their accomplices. The knowledge possessed by detectives of their movements constituted in fact a remarkable feature of the pursmt from the time it commenced until the final scene in the drama at Pigeon Mountain.

Into the Boat. From the messages that camo into the possession of the police, it became evident that a dash would be wade from some point on the North Shore between Devonport and . *Aenhead, the object being to call -in at ano ot the bays or inlets in the neighbourhood of Ski River for the purpose of obtaining the food and provisions necessary for a sea voyage. A dose watch was set on Rf»grtoto Channel and Waiheko Passage lest the fugitives should elude the trap that was Kg prepared for safetv of the open sea. These precau ttnf proved Necessary however a. the prisoners did not change tue.r "St when dusk approached on Fnday evening, the. two men pu. o* stealtMy, and slipped down J" bour under cover of the gather ng darkness. It was hoped &J™ 0 £' f £ that they would faU into /;T landingthem, but they chose for a * nt »»S_ place a beach that had not r* rolled, and the pur«"«"»«"" other inlet were baulked of their prcj.

ForagingOn landing, Buckland Beach cow*b meaUß seated containing they secured a I^f" n an d blankets a quantity of clothing an Dro i on „ e ,i later in the One of the cottages m in food, the of wmm s actasl residence there L«rd, who is at e was with her two chddren. j flf at supper about 9 V^J^ n ., cn]]e d **? s£?*£%* S&» *! the

Ptne^c^rm.l

just in time to see the figtuje of a man dash out of the door. Very much perturbed, she made -in of. every room, but found nothing missing but a bag The Bearish for food had failed. Alarm Given. By this time the alarm had t*-c» given, and the watchers weru m hot pursuit. The fugitives made iur Pigeon Mountain, which is a tree-topped eminence commanding a magnificent view of the harbour and the surrounding countryside. Though hotly pressed, they gained their objective, and were completely Jost in the thick growth. An the r.ight was far advanced, and it was expected that they would, try to make a dash for more ojjen a cordon was placed rounu the and a watch was sot at Tamaki bridge to prevent their escape should they succeed in getting through the ring of. watchers.... It iiroved to be an-all-nigbt vigil, in which rain and a cold wind added to the, discomfort of the watchers and two constables, and Detectives O'Brien, Nalder, O'tSullivan, and Meiklejoha. The fact that this party -was obliged to dispense with meals did not improve the pleasantness of the experience. Constable Kennedy went without food' for a day and a night. The fugitives were evidently ensconced in a hollow or dip at the very summit of thfe bill, and were not seen all night. Surrounded. Lights in the neighbouring cottages, and' occasional glimpses of a lighted pocket torch, would acquaint them that they were eurfounded, and deter them from making a sortie. Day broke, and the prisoners still lay low. It was expected that they would show themselves when their position seemed hopeless, but-no sign was given of their intention to surrender. The morning was 1 half gone when a wisp of smoke curled up from the summit, and as this was taken to be an indication of the intention to make themselves comfortable and" hold out, the watchers decided to close in on the summit.

The I»ast Advance. The signal was given, and the watchers crept stealthily up the hillside, the cordon narrowing as it approached the summit. Each man was alert, and prepared to meet violence, but they could have spared themselves anxiety. Their men were taken oompdetely by surprise. Constable Kennedy was the first to reach the top, and, on looking into the hollow, he saw the two prisoners sitting down engaged in reading a oony of Friday morning's paper, containing an accooTit~«f_their escape from the cells. Both men submitted quietly to arrest. They were hungry and exhausted from exposure and lack of sleep. The attire of the men when recaptured wan different from that in which they escaped. They wore whit© woollen jerseys, open at the neck, and white yachting caps.