ESCAPE FROM INSTITUTION

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23589, 17 March 1942, Page 4

ESCAPE FROM INSTITUTION

Extradition Order' Made YOUNG MAN CHARGED IN HOBART (Received March 16, 10.15 p.m.) (U.P.A.) HOBART, March 16. Richard Cecil Humphreys, aged 2?, is to be extradited to New Zeeland on a new charge of having escaped from the Waikeria Borstal Institution on September 20, 1941, while under detention. The original charge of having stolen a 27-foot auxiliary launch from Invercargill was withdrawn, and he was proceeded against on two new charges instituted in Tasmania of be* ing without lawful means of support, and with’ .having at Swansea stolen # knapsack valued at 10s fid. He pleaded guilty and convictions were formally recorded. Humphreys appealed to the Benc|i to permit him to join any of the set* vices rather than send him back to New Zealand, saying he had already been in custody for a month. The Magistrate replied that nf would have liked to do that. He addeo that it was rather a pity that the JfcW Zealand authorities were abandoning the more serious charge for anotherThe Magistrate asked. Humphrey* why he had not joined the Army in New Zealand. Humphreys replied Wlgt he had been working in a munition* factory. Detective-Inspector Fleming, in ask* ing for an extradition order, said Hum* phreys had escaped from a Borstal in* stitution and had taken an auxiliary launch and sailed it single-handed to Tasmania in 23 days. An escort would take him back to New Zealand by the earliest available boat. Humphreys was remanded for geyea days. 'The launch Sea Bird disappeared from the Invercargill jetty on Jana■ary 22 and was reported to have been seen off Puysegur Point the following day. There wag no further trac?. oi the launch until a report on February 24 that Humphreys had been cha r § e “ in Hobart with the theft of a launch from Invercargill. The launch, which is driven by * six-cylinder motor-car engine, is owned by Mr W. J. Duncan, of Invercargill. On January 30 of last year Hum' phreys jumped from the express when being escorted to the Waikeria Borstal Institute. He disappeared and eludea capture for about a fortnight, untu he was caught asleep on the yacm Jeanette, which had been stolen from Tauranga. The yacht was then ) chored about five utiles off the lay-7 from Tuparoa, on the East iSkmst. , Strong pleas were made on Hum' phreys’ behalf when he appeared W* fore Mr Justice Blair for sentence on March 28. His Honour imposed a com* inal sentence of 18 months’ reform 8 ' tive treatment, to be concurrent wan his previous sentence. On Septemv* 19 Humphreys escaped from wsikertg where he had been treated as a tru»w** inmate, and the next indication otn* whereabouts was the theft oft quantities of petrol, oil, and store* ■ Invercargill, and the subsequent moval of the Sea Bird.