Murderer Calls Welfare Worker In Escape Bid

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29932, 20 September 1962, Page 14

Murderer Calls Welfare Worker In Escape Bid

(N.Z. Press Association)

AUCKLAND, September 19.

Three Auckland detectives recaptured the Sicilian murderer, Angelo La Mattina, aged 28, on the steps of a city dance hall less than an hour after he escaped from the Auckland prison in broad daylight today.

La Mattina was recaptured after a woman he telephoned led police to the spot. The woman was Mrs Lee Hursey, a church welfare worker who befriended him three months ago and has visited him in prison every Saturday since.

Hurt by a 20ft drop down the outside wall of the prison —he broke a bone in his heel —La Mattina telephoned Mrs Hursey from a garage near the Orange Hall in Newton road. “I’m in terrible pain,” he said. “Please come and help me.” Mrs Hursey, who is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church telephoned her pastor, Mr A. V. Banbury, who told her to inform the police. A minute after they had been notified of La Mattina’s escape, Mrs Hursey was. on the line offering to take the police to him. A patrol car arrived at her home in Kupe street, Orakei, and , soon afterwards, Mrs Hursey was leading the police to La Mattina. “There was poor old Angelo, sitting on the steps.” Mrs Hursey said later. "I went across to him first.

“He raised his hand and his face lit up and then the police closed in and arrested him. You should have seen his e •- pression change. He obviously felt I’d betrayed him. “I went to the hospital with him and held his hand and explained that there was nothing I could do but tell the police. “When I left he was not angry that I had given him away,” she said. "He told me that his mother is ill in Sicily and his one ambition is to get home and see her.” La Mattina was taken to hospital in an ambulance called by Pastor Banbury. Unbeknown to Mrs Hursey, the pastor had gone to Newton road and was watching La Mattina from across the street for 15 minutes before the police arrived. “The pastor would have given Angelo help had it been needed,” Mrs Hursey said. “But he

didn’t want to break the law, so he waited till the police came.” Mrs Hursey said she thought La Mattina escaped in the hope of stowing away in the Italian liner. Fairsea, due at Auckland on Wednesday. She said she had received a letter from La Mattina’s mother. It read: “I was very happy to receive your letter and to hear news about my loving son, Angelo. If you are a mother you can imagine how my heart is unhappy for my son. I weep to think of his bad destiny and I suffer because I can do nothing for him. It has been with pleasure I have known you see him often. Please kiss him for me. “It is a mother who prays you to do it. May our Lord bless you and your family for all that you are doing for my son. Please let me know often his news.”