AUDACIOUS RUSE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 51, 4 March 1929, Page 9

AUDACIOUS RUSE

ESCAPE FROM CELL

POLICEMEN TRICKED

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") .' AUCKLAND, This Day.

After a fortnight's liberty gained through a daring escape from the cells of the Central Police Station, John William Osborne, aged 17, was recaptured by detectives in the early hours of Saturday morning in unusual circumstances.

It is now revealed that Osborne escaped by a clever ruse, and made his way out of the station while the sergeant and constable wore left locked by him in the cell in which he had been placed. It was not until about an hour and a half later that they we're released, but in the meantime the prisoner had disappeared. Constant watch was kept throughout the city and suburbs. The youth was found sleeping soundly in a large cupboard wardrobe in an unoccupied house, in Epsom. Gsborne was arrested on 13th February on a charge of breaking and entering the house of Bobert Arthur Dowell, of Mount Boskill, and stealing money and jewellery valued at £75. He was taken to the Central Police Station that evening, and in view of his youth certain minor considerations Were shown him. He was placed in a cell and was still there when the evening rounds were made by the station officers. At 1 o'clock the following morning a sergeant and a constable made the early morning calls at the colls. The door of Osborne's cell was bolted but not locked,- as it had been since ho was placed inside. The two were considerably surprised to find on opening the door that apparently no one was inside, and they both entered to inspect the cell more closely. When they turned they found that the door had been closed' quietly behind them, and bolted on the outside. About an hour and a half later they attracted the attention of the watchhouse staff, and were released. Inquiries showed that Osborne had reached through the grill in the door and slid the bolt, so letting himself out. He then hid, and upon seeing the men safely inside the .cell he slipped out of his hiding-place and bolted the door. He then made his way out of the station through the backyard, and by the time the alarm was given he had a good start. Osborne .was returned to the police station cells. He appeared before Mr. F. H. Levien in the Magistrate's Court on the original.charge. In asking for a remand, Detective-Sergeant Holmes said it was possible that further charges would be preferred in the near future. The accused was romandod.