FIVE PATIENTS MAKE GETAWAY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 112, 5 February 1935, Page 10

FIVE PATIENTS MAKE GETAWAY

Avondale Mental Hospital ALL RECAPTURED; ONE WARDER INJURED By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, February 4. Five patients at the Auckland Mental Hospital, all young men, escaped from a working party in the grounds at 10.40 this morning. One of the men, who went inland, was captured after a short period of liberty, and three more were apprehended at Point Chevalier at about one o'clock. It was not until after 9 p.m., however, that the last patient was captured. Three of the men proceeded to the Avondale waterfront. The tide was then falling and the men, without hesitation, plunged into the shallow water that barely covered the mild flat They reached the foreshore about 150 yards ahead of the pursuing warders and waded through the deepening water toward Pollen Island. "

Although one of the patients could not swim, the three succeeded in landing near Pollen Island still well in advance of the warders, but were later recaptured. The belief that the man caught tonight would not be recaptured without a struggle was .justified. As soon as the warders made apparent their intention of apprehending him the man showed fight. Before the patient was safely handcuffed one of the warders had received a heavy blow on the face.