Dummy used in bid to escape

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33073, 14 November 1972, Page 1

Dummy used in bid to escape

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 13. All inmates at Paremoremo Prison will be under lock and key for most of tomorrow as warders complete a systematic search of the gaol for weapons.

The search began today after an attempted escape last evening. The prisoners were confined to their cells all day.

The escape attempt was foiled by a warder who saw a dummy in the bed of an inmate in A block soon after 6 p.m. and raised a general alert.

In another incident, two men escaped from a Mount Eden Prison working party which was on its way to Paremoremo Prison this morning, but one was later recaptured. The prisoner who tried to escape at Paremoremo, a 29-year-old man serving a sevenyear term for a variety of offences, including escaping, was found soon after, hiding in an exercise yard.

He was huddled behind a toilet wall in the yard holding an “escape kit”—two crudely-made ropes, with attached grappling irons, and a baling hook. The man, who was sentenced in August, gave himself up peacefully to prison officers. It is understood he will face internal charges of attempting to escape. Skilfully made The prison superintendent (Mr J. Hobson) said today that that dummy was the best he had ever seen. It was made of blankets and newspaper with human hair stuck on the head. Beside the bed lay an open book and a partly-eaten meal. The head of the dummy was face down, cradled in an arm, and gave the impression that the man had fallen asleep after eating part of his meal. The ropes found with the prisoner were made of stripped sheeting which had been plaited. Mr Hobson said it appeared the prisoner was waiting for darkness to fall when he intended to scale a 20ft wall

and two wire fences to freedom. Checks at yard It is believed the prisoner smuggled himself into the exercise yard and remained there for several hours before he was detected. Inmates are not obliged to use the yard in their exercise period, and prison officers check the number of men who enter the area. When the exercise period is completed, the inmates are checked to make certain that none remains behind. Mr Hobson said it was likely that the prisoner had crawled into the yard while

being shielded by other inmates. Mr Hobson said the general search would continue most of tomorrow, and the prisoners would be kept under lock and key. The search today uncovered a variety of articles such as small tools which could be used as weapons, and ropes. Alert for escaper Police stations throughout the country have been put on alert for the Mount Eden Prison escaper who is still free. Joseph Tia Neho slipped away from the working party with another Mount Eden inmate, Lewis Whare Rangi Mihinui, about 9.30 a.m. Mihinui was recaptured this afternoon in Auckland, but Neho was still at large tonight.

Rowed to Hobsonville

The police launch and a Royal New Zealand Air Force barge were called in to patrol the harbour near the prison after the escape, but the men managed to get to the harbour edge and were rowed to Hobsonville by someone who did not know who they were. Mihinui was recaptured just before 3 p.m. after he and Neho were seen in Anzac Avenue in Auckland by a prison officer, Mr T. Carey, as he was driving by. Mr Carey stopped his car, waited for them to draw level, and then leaped out and grabbed Mihinui: Neho ran off.

Mr Carey was helped by a teller and a customer from a nearby bank to hold Mihinui until the police arrived.