PRISONER RUNS AWAY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25179, 9 May 1947, Page 6

PRISONER RUNS AWAY

ESCAPE AT SUPREME COURT WIDESPREAD SEARCH BY POLICE A prisoner who was found guilty of th® theft of a motor-car in the Supreme Court, Christchurch yesterday afternoon, escaped from the custody of a warder as he was being transferred tram the Court cells to a police van. and was last seen cycling up Victoria The escape occurred at 5.15 p.m. The prisoner, Jeffrey Corbett, a labourer, aged 28, was, with another man. to be taken to Paparua prison. He ran quickly into some private property alongside the Court, jumped a fence, and then seized a Woman’s bicycle with which he continued his escape. Police patrols were afterwards dispatched to form a network round the city, a watch was kept on all the main roads, and in the meantime an intensive search was made of the city “with the exception of the skeleton staff required on duty at the central police station, every available man joined In the search last evening; but at a late hour nothing had been reported. In view of Corbett’a record of car theft it is considered by the police that he may attempt to convert a vehicle in his flight. In radio broadcasts last evening, motorists were warned to see that their cars were securely locked with keys removed from the ignition switches. A description issued by the police states that Corbett is sft lljin in height, is fresh complexibtied, has dark, wavy hair, brown eyes, is of strong build, and was dressed in a blue pin stripe suit.