NO SIGN OF ESCAPERS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30044, 31 January 1963, Page 10

NO SIGN OF ESCAPERS

Police Search Vacant Houses (NX Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 30. In spite of extensive inquiries in the Auckland city area and on the North Shore, the police have found no leads to the movements of the four prisoners who escaped from the Auckland Prison on Tuesday morning. This has strengthened the belief among senior officers that the escapers received help, which was pre-arranged.

immediately they left the prison grounds. Inspector P. McKenzie, officer in charge of the search, said that a number of sightings of the prisoners had been checked with negative

“There has been no evidence at all of their movements after breaking out of prison,” he said.

Inspector McKenzie said the police were searching the many known vacant houses in the western suburb*. But they feared the escapers may have entered homes whom occupants were away on holiday. He asked people to check neighbouring homes known to be empty for possible signs of breaking and entering. The escapers are George Wilder, aged 24. Frank Matich, aged 24, Patrick Wiwarena, aged 25, and Reuben Tahwlnata Ate, aged 20. A launch stolen from Hobson Bay yesterday and which police thought the escapers might have used was found off Takapuna this morning in charge of a youth of 10 who will later appear in the Children's Court