RECAPTURE OF PRISONER

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25437, 8 March 1948, Page 6

RECAPTURE OF PRISONER

47-DAY SEARCH ENDS DISTRICT RESIDENTS HELP POLICE “The Press” Special Service DUNEDIN, March 7. Surrounded by a party of residents from the Owaka district, who were concealed around the area, William Albert Harrington, ail escaped convict from Paparua Prison surrendered quietly to Constable J. E. R. Myers, of Owaka, when ordered to put up his hands a short distance from his home about 9.30 a.m. yesterday. The arrest was the culmination of an almost continuous observation of the prisoner’s home for the last 10 days. Harrington escaped from Paparua. where he was serving a sentence of two and a half years inprisonment for attempted rape, on January 20. He was known to be in the Waimate district some time later, but in spite of all the efforts of the police he managed to escape the net which has been cast around the district. On February 16 he was arrested at Waitati and his rifle taken from him, but on the same day he re-escaped by leaping down n bank and concealing himself in thick bush. At that time there was a large amount of traffic on the roads travelling to Dunedin for the centennial events and Harrington would be difficult to apprehend. Since his second escape, however. Constable Myers, of Owaka, has kept the prisoner’s home under observation from the nearby hills with the aid of field glasses. Aided by residents of the district a close watch was kept on the house, especially as Harrington had been reported to be in the area by people who knew him personally. The police took the greatest care, because it was not known whether he had acquired another rifle and it was also feared that if Harrington heard that strangers .were in the district he might disappear into the thick bush which lay behind the house. Superintendent Scott, of Dunedin, expressed great appreciation for the services of the residents who helped to keep the house under observation and said that without their assistance the prisoner might easily have been scared away. On the night before the arrest a party of 13 residents and the constable took up their positions at vantage points overlooking the house in darkness. At 9.15 o’clock Harrington left a building. He disappeared for a short time and then reappeared about 75 yards from the place where the constable was concealed.- Harrington walked about 25 yards towards Constable Myers who then ordered him to put up his hands. Harrington will return to Paparua Prison to-day under escort.