Two Of Escapers Taken At Farm

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31773, 2 September 1968, Page 1

Two Of Escapers Taken At Farm

Two of the four prisoners who had escaped from Paparua Prison on Friday morning had not been recaptured late last evening. Their two companions gave themselves up to a farmer in Lees Valley, near Oxford, on Saturday evening.

The two men who have been arrested are Garry Gerbes, aged 23, and Kenneth Stevens, aged 22. They will appear in the Magistrate’s Court this morning on charges of escaping from a penal institution.

The search will con-

tinue today for Karl Kreowsky, aged 27, and RosS Campbell, aged 22.

About 8.30 p.m. on Saturday the four prisoners were seen walking up the drive towards the home of Mr M. Harper. Constable W. Johnson, of Oxford, was telephoned and patrol cars were sent to the farm.

Mrs Harper gave the four men tea and food and Mr Harper tried to persuade them to give themselves up. Two of the prisoners remained at the house until the police arrived but the other two left

Police dogs picked up the trail of the two men and followed it for some miles but lost it soon after midnight The prisoners crossed the Ashley River twice and doubled back to put the dogs off the scent. Road Blocks Additional police were sent to the area and road blocks were set up on either side of the Harper homestead. At 3.25 a.m. yesterday another road block was set up at Whiterock.

The search continued throughout Saturday night and yesterday but the men were not sighted. Constables R. C. Kenny, B. Thompson and B. W. Rosewarne used three horses in the search.

Late yesterday afternoon smoke was seen in the Whistle River area but when

| the police investigated it was found that it was not connected with the missing prisoners. A pair of prison trousers was found but when the number on them was checked with Paparua Prison it was found that they belonged to o.ie of the men who had been arrested. Bitterly Cold It has been bitterly cold in the area at night and on Friday night snow, sleet and rain fell. The prisoners are lightly dressed. A search headquarters has been set up at Mr Harper’s house under Senior-Sergeant B. D. Read as controller.