HUNT FOR PRISON ESCAPERS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30108, 17 April 1963, Page 14

HUNT FOR PRISON ESCAPERS

Search Concentrated On Brighton Area

The hunt for the two prison escapers, Edward Murray Moore and Leighton Noel Crow, had last night narrowed to the Wainoni-North New Brighton suburbs of Christchurch. Uniform police and detectives, in patrol cars and on foot, with police dogs, were attempting to surround an area of about 600 acres, containing the Avondale golf links, group houses, a farm, an area of tussock-covered sand dunes and the two escapers. All available patrol cars and policemen were rushed to the area from city and suburban police stations after DetectiveSergeant P. J. Donovan had reported by radio that it was certain the two wanted men were in the area.

At 11 p.m., the search moved from the Wainoni area to the New Brighton racecourse, after two men, answering the description of the escapers, had been reported being seen in

Travis road near the

main entrance to the racecourse. Eighteen prison officers searched the 130acre course and its buildings.

The trail to North New Brighton began with a burglary at Archibalds Garage. Ltd., in the city on Monday night, reported to the police yesterday morning. A red Daimler sports car and clothing, including several pairs of blue mechanics’ overalls, were stolen.

At 5.45 p.m. yesterday a bread vendor reported to the police that he had seen a red Daimler sports car, with two occupants, the driver being a man, travelling at high speed down Breezes road to Wainoni.

At 5.55 p.m. a resident reported to the police that he had seen two men, dressed in blue overalls, in Pacific street. North New Brighton

A house in Palmers road was broken into between 5.20 p.m. and 7.15 p.m., while the occupants were away. The police were informed immediately the owners returned and detectives found muddy footprints in the rooms. Under a bed, Detective B. Preston found blue overalls stolen from Archibalds Garage. In a pocket were some letters addressed to Moore

The escapers stole clothing and money from the house. Shortly after this the police were informed that two men answering the description of the escapers had bought cigarettes from a shop near the corner of Bower avenue and New Brighton road, about 300 yards from Palmers road. These two men were seen to walk acfoss the Bower bridge, a short distance up Wainoni road and down a track into the Avondale golf links—farm land area which the police later surrounded The escapers are known to be wearing the clothing they stole from the Palmers road house. The clothing is light grey trousers, a pale bluegreen sports coat, with a gold badge on the left lapel a pale grey. satin-finish windbreaker and black dress trousers with a grey stripe down the side The police at 9 p.m. were using a police dog to track the men. starting from the house whe.e th°v changed their clothing. Condition of Warder The prison officer, Mr Stephen Rogers, who was brutally assaulted just before Crow and Moore escaped from Paparua Prison at 735 p.m on Monday is still on the seriously ill list at the Christchurch Hospital Mr Rogers, who is a married man with four children, whose ages range from seven to 20 years. conscious, but his condition Is “only fair ” He has been a prison officer for about 17 years In the last 21 years, although there have been a few fights between prison officers and prisoners, there has been no serious assault at Paparua Road blocks are still being manned by the police and prison officers around Christchurch. from the Waimakariri river to the Rakaia. The prison officers are manning four road blocks, apart from those manned by the police Twenty-one prison officers are engaged in the hunt for the escapers. Until the escapers were known to be in tihe Wainoni area. 20 uniformed policemen and about 12 detectives were taking part in the search. Some of the policemen had been on duty continuously for 24 hours at 8 p.m. yesterday. The acting-superintendent of the Paparua Prison (Mr

E P. Cahill) refused permission for newspaper photographers to take a photograph of Mr Rogers in hospital. “His condition is too shocking," Mr Cahill said. Hit With Broom

He said that it was apparent that Mr Rogers had been hit with a hearth bropm, punched and kicked, and hit with a larger broom. The attack took 1 place in the west wing of the prison. Crow, who was a “trustie" had apparently unlocked Moore’s cell. Keys taken from Mr Rogers had been used to unlock a gate which gave access from the west wing to the prison grounds. “Mr Rogers was found lying in a pool of blood Prisoners rattled cell doors, and whistled and called out to attract other prison officers to the scene. The prisoners obviously did not like the violence used on Mr Rogers." Mr Cahill said.

A * police spokesman said that detectives took statements from several prisoners on Monday night. The police were informed of the escape 10 minutes after it happened and had a patrol car on its way out to the prison within seconds.

Paparua Prison has never been classified as more than a medium-security gaol, and inmates work on its farm poultry run and shingle pit. The police had a road block established on the Main North road at the Waimakariri river bridge within 55 minutes of being notified of the escape, and the road block on the Mam South road at the Rakaia river bridge 30 minutes later. Two more road blocks on the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers are also being manned, and there are also two other road blocks

Aircraft Checked The police reported that a man with tattoo marks on l)is arm. as Crow has, had been reported to board an aircraft bound for Sydney from Christchurch. The Sydney police checked the aircraft when it landed, but neither of the escapers was aboard. Police are also checking flights at the Christchurch Airport and shipping at Lyttelton.

“The sighting of the escapers in Wainoni confirms our reasoning that they have not beaten our blocks,” said Senior-Sergeant H McLean, who is controlling the hunt from the Christchurch Central Police Station.

He said that the public had co-operated splendidly in reporting men acting suspiciously. It had been reports from residents that had led the police on the trail to Wainoni. Numerous reports from other areas had come in “The men on the hunt are very determined. They all want to be in. and the search is being pursued relentlessly " he said

Policemen engaged in the hunt are armed, some with rifles and others with automatic pistols. Both escapers have been classified as dangerous Warning to Car Owners Moore is sft 7in and has a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and light brown hair He was serving a seven-year sentence for assault with intent to commit rape on a 10-year-old girl. Crow has a fair complex-

ion, fair hair and hazel eyes. He is more than 6ft. He has a skull and the words "Born Loose," tattooed on his left forearm. A flash of lightning is tattooed on his left hand. He was serving a one-year sentence for burglary, theft, and escaping from custody. The red Daimler sports car stolen by the escapers had not yet been found by the police. Anyone seeing it is asked to communicate with the police immediately. The police believe that it has been hidden in scrub or lupins in the North New Brighton-Wainoni area. The police ask that persons in the Wainoni-Burwood-Waimairi-North New Brighton and New Brighton districts make sure their cars are locked, the ignition keys removed and the rotorarm taken out to immobolise them The police, who will move a big force into the area at daybreak today, believe the escapers Will attempt to steal another vehicle if they are still at large.