SEARCH FOR PRISONER

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29178, 12 April 1960, Page 16

SEARCH FOR PRISONER

z" , v ifcsappearahce Of Murderer (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. April 11. ■<A convicted murderer, Angelo Antenio Lu Mattina, aged 36, has been miming from the Auekland Prison—the maximum security gaol in Now Teohnfli tines this morning. r- ■ His mysterious disappearance, without leaving any trace of his method of escape, set off a full-scale search by police and prison officers. The search continues. Prison authorities were “practically certain" that La Mattina, serving a life sentence for clubbing a fellow Italian to death with bottles in Wellington in September, 1957, was not in the prison. An intensive search of the prison buildings and grounds after he was found to be missing at an 1130 am. check showed no trace, of him. Detectives inquiring within the prison could not establish what method of escape was used. But a possibility is that La Mattina hid himself in the rear of a goods service vehicle leaving by the main gaol gates. La Mattina speaks little English. He is- sft 7jin, slim, with a sallow *. complexion and dark brawn hair and eyes. When last seen he was wearing white moleskin trousers and a reddish-check shirt Attended Medical Parade > He was last seen after attending a prison medical parade at 8.15 am. with a group of 20 prisoners in the surgery in the basement of the main gaol building. Prisoners passed fit return to work unescorted. It seems possible that after leaving the surgery La Mattina hid in a vehicle about to leave the gaol. Butchers’ and bakers’ trucks, among other vehicles, visit the prison daily. These vehicles are searched.

“We have no idej where he is,” said the acting-superintendent of the prison (Mr I. Mathieson). “We are practically certain he is not still in the gaol.” He believed La Mattina had been a reasonably quiet prisoner.

All visits to prisoners were cancelled while the searches and inquiries were being carried out. Large numbers of police were rushed to the gaol when La Mattina’s disappearance was discovered. The area was cordoned off and searched. Police cars cruised in nearby streets, while main city outlets were checked and roadblocks set up. Passengers on the Monowai, due to sail for Sydney at 3 p.m., had to disembark while a police party searched the ship. Detectives drew blanks with inquiries from La Mattina’s Auckland acquaintances and his prison visitors. In Wellington acquaintances living at Island Bay Were warned that he was missing. Car Salesman’s Report A salesman at a Newmarket car sales firm reported that a man answering La Mattina’s description, together with another taller man, tried to hire a car at 3.30 p.m. The tall man - talked while the shorter one stayed outside on the road.

The men had foreign accents, which he noticed first while they were talking on the pavement outside. They went away when told the firm had no hire cars. The salesman telephoned the police when he heard that La Mattina was missing. A police photograph was “very similar** to the man-he had seen. Inquiries were made at Great South road car hire firms without success.

Numbers of police had to be withdrawn from the search tonight when they were transferred to the gaol, where prisoners refused to return to their cells. La Mattina was sentenced to death in December, 1957, for the murder of the caretaker of the Garibaldi Club, Wellington, but was later reprieved and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was also convicted of being a prohibited immigrant and of landing in New Zealand unlawfully.