ESCAPE OF PRISONER

Evening Star, Issue 17766, 14 September 1921, Page 6

ESCAPE OF PRISONER

JUMPS OFF TRAIN. William Herbert Chapman, a prisoner who was being transferred from Dunedin Gaol lo Paparoa, escaped from the train yesterday near Ashburton, and, so far, has not been recaptured. Chapman was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in the Police Court on Friday last by Mr Bartholomew, S.M., the charges against him being the theft of an overcoat and the theft of a lady’s bicycle. Ho was despatched under escort by" the first express yesterday morning, and evidently eluded the constable under whose charge ho had been placed, and jumped from tho train. Chapman is a medium-sized man, fiftyfive yearn of ago, but looking much younger. He complained during the time he was in custody iu Dunedin of illhealth. FURTHER PARTICULARS. [Per United Press Association.] ASHBURTON, September 14. A prisoner escaped from the north-bound express yesterday at about 3.40 p.m. while tho train was stationary near Ashburton Cemetery. The escapee was last hoard of at 5 o’clock yesterday, when he was inquiring for clothes and a bicycle a mile from tho railway. Tho police are ft'll searching, hut have not revealed the identity of tho prisoner, who was recently sentenced at Dunedin and was proceeding in tho custody of a single constable to Paparoa Prison. 'Hie escapee is described as of light build, height sft 6in, and unshaven.