Cell Escaper’s Denial

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31702, 11 June 1968, Page 12

Cell Escaper’s Denial

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY, June 7.

A man who escaped from a court cell last month last week wrote a letter to a Sydney newspaper, reviving memories of the days when the notorious Kelly gang terrorised Victoria and New South Wales.

Like Ned Kelly, the escaper, Keith Hahn, aged 30, sought space in the press to deny police allegations about him, and to present his side of the case.

Hahn, who escaped with two other men in an ingeniously planned and daringly executed operation on May 17. said the allegations left him “with no alternative other than that of retaliating with the truth.” Police have described Hahn as “armed, and a dangerous gunman who will shoot it out.” Hahn said said that he and his associate, Joe Brown, were not armed and did not intend to arm themselves as a means of remaining free men. “The allegation that I, in particular, am armed and will resort to violence if approached. is nothing short of a well-laid plan, in the climax of which shall be my death by a bullet," Hahn wrote to the press. He claimed that he had been described as a vicious gunman to give police an ex-

cuse for shooting him on sight

He said the police were fully aware of the reasons for his escape, and, he added: “Should they insist on misleading you. the public, I shall not hesitate to destroy the pseudo facade certain officers have adopted in an effort to disguise their true characteristics.” Hahn said he had left written reports with reputable : witnesses which would be re-

leased for publication if he were killed. “These reports contain sufficient proof to convince the most sceptical savage corruption existing within the police force,” he said. “To you, the public, I submit this plea: Judge me not as they would have you judge me. Maintain your right as an individual and. in God’s 'name, do not make the mistake of believing these things I happen to those next door, not I me “I, too, have a father, brothers and sisters, desires and i fears—in short I am a human {being, not a savage animal to be shot on sight.” The police have confirmed that the letter was in Hahn’s handwriting. They say he has a record involving the use of firearms going back to 1946.