ESCAPEE RECAPTURED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 197, 9 May 1918, Page 4

ESCAPEE RECAPTURED

By Teleeraph—Press Association. Auckland, May a. John Thomas Christie, who escaped from the Mental Hospital on Saturday, has been recaptured by a constable at Papakura. Referring to tho escape on Saturday of John Thouins Christie from the Avondale Mental Hospital, the Auckland "Star" says:—Christie, , when captured last time, was placed under strict surveillance, a warder being specially detailed to watch liis movements. He waa not called on lo work, and since February 2 last ho had done nothing but stroll about the building, beyond which li» was not allowed. On Saturday evening, between 7 and 7.30 o'clock, bo was in tho day recreation room (upstairs), with, n large number of other ipatienls and several attendants. Prom there he got into the attendants' lavatory, removed a block that kept a window in position, and then, m pouring rain, by means of a towel, ho lowered himself until he vas able to got hold of a drain-pipe—an intrepid undertaking. This he negotiated safely to the ground, and escaped ovnr a fence 10ft. high- . Knowing Christie's mania for stealing motor bicycles, motorcars, etc., tho police are making careful inquiries into the available data respecting a motor-car of Mr. E. Perkins (aucboard requests Mayo to send in his residonce on Sunday evening. Apart from Christie's mania for (dealing bicycles, etc., Dr. Beattio, the medical siipeiintemlent at the hospital, looks upon the young man as harmless.