DARING ESCAPE

Evening Star, Issue 23833, 13 March 1941, Page 3

DARING ESCAPE

JUMP FROM SPEEDING TRAIN YACHT STOLEN AND PROVISIONED [Per United Press Association.] HAMILTON, March 12. The story of a sensational leap from a speeding train at Ohaupo on the night of January 3tfc was told in the Hamilton Police Court to-day, when Richard Humphreys, a 213-year-old mechanic, of Auckland, was charged with escaping from custody and stealing a yacht valued at £250, at Mount Maunganui, four days later. Tlie accused pleaded guilty. Humphreys had been sentenced in Auckland on a charge of theft to two years’ reformative, detention, said Constable Lloyd Shaud, of Auckland. He was on his way to the Waikeria Borstal Institute in witness’s custody when lie asked to leave the carriage. , Humphreys then disappeared while the train was travelling at a very fast speed near Ohaupo. In statements to the police Humphreys said that when ho left the carriage ho made his way down the train, dropping off the guard’s van as the train slowed down near To Awamutu. He then returned to Cornwall Park, Auckland, where he had hidden some clothes and money in preparation for his escape from Auckland. He wont to Mount Maunganui, arriving there on February 3. Ho noticed a yacht at its moorings, and decided to steal it. An old oil drum was filled with water, and ho bought a giillou of petrol and a pint of oil, as well as enough provisions to last him for two mouths. That night ho slipped olf the mooring rope from the yacht and made out to sea.

Humphreys said he arrived at Mayor Island next day, where he stayed for about two hours. He then made another break in his voyage at White Island, remaining there for several hours before he sailed on to Cape Runaway. He intended to get away from New Zealand when he ran into rough weather, which broke the bowsprit ami forced him to shelter at Tuatoria, on tho east const, where he was surprised by the police. Humphreys was committed to the Supreme Court in Auckland for sentence.