‘THIS IS GEORGE WILDER’-BY ’PHONE

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30667, 5 February 1965, Page 1

‘THIS IS GEORGE WILDER’-BY ’PHONE

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, February 4. Surrounded by police in a Mt. Eden house today, the escaper, George Wilder, talked with a “New Zealand Herald” reporter on the telephone. Wilder explained the position the men were in and their escape attempt.

The telephone call was made just before 4.30 p.m. It was some time before the telephone was answered. The reporter asked for Mr C. H. Jamieson, the occupier of the flat.

The person who answered the telephone said he was Mr Jamieson. He said he lived at 35 Horoeka street, next to the flat where the three men were.

When the reporter explained who he was and asked if Mr Jamieson could tell him anything about it he replied: “This is George Wilder.”

Wilder explained how the men escaped. “We got out by a stick-up.. We stuck up the three officers in charge. We got up to this house.” Wilder said he took the truck in which the men made their escape. “It was running. I commandeered it.” Wilder said that the men had three hostages. Asked who they were, he said: “Mr Cavanagh, the chief warder, Mr Jamieson and his mother, Mrs Jamieson. She’s 80.” Wilder said the escapers planned to get out using the hostages. He was asked: Who is in there?—Me, Gillies and Evans. Are you armed?—Yes. We have a sawn-off shotgun. Anything else? That’s all. “ENOUGH” Have you much ammunition?—We’ve got enough. If we use this gun we’ll only use it once.

Wilder said the men wanted a car to make their escape.

How will you get out to it? —We’ll just march out. Any interference and Mr Cavanagh will be the first to get it. The old lady is safe. We won’t touch her at all. This does not seem like you George. Why are you doing it?—l’m doing 13 years. They call me a harmless burglar. Why should I be doing 13 years? Wilder asked the reporter what his car was like. He was told it was too old and would not get him far. Was anyone hurt in the truck accident? —No one. I was driving. It went a bit haywire. Wilder said that no-one had

been harmed but that Mr Cavanagh was “well tied up.” Is Mr Cavanagh harmed?— No. He’s just playing ball. Wilder said it was not possible for the “Herald” to speak to Mr Jamieson, Mrs Jamieson or Mr Cavanagh. After ringing off, the “Herald” got in touch with the Central Police Station communications branch.

The police were told the flat was on the telephone. They were given the number and information on the people inside and were told of the shotgun. This information was immediately relayed to the police cars at the scene by radio-telephone. Mrs Jamieson was released a few minutes later.