PRISONER ESCAPES FROM EXERCISE YARD EARLY THIS MORNING

Evening Star, Issue 26091, 3 May 1947, Page 6

PRISONER ESCAPES FROM EXERCISE YARD EARLY THIS MORNING

, Apparently eluding detection while being shepherded with other »prisoners from his cell to the exercise yard at the Central Police Station at about 7 o’clock this morning, a young man who was in custody on a charge of unlawful conversion of a motor car made good his escape. He was seen later in Maori Hill, but had not been recaptured by noon. The prisoner was Ronald James Blair, described as a fisherman, aged 22. He was arrested in Christchurch oh Thursday of last week on a charge of converting at Dunedin on the same day a motor car, valued at £1,400, belonging to Dr IR. L. Cotton. He Was remanded from Christchurch to appear in Dunedin last Thursday and was again remanded in custody for a week. ' A police announcement of his disappearance was broadcast to-day and owners of motor cars were warned against carelessness in leaving their cars unattended. Exact information hojv Blair made his escape is not yet available. The cells at the station are occupied bv a number of prisoners just now, including several who came before - the Supreme Court yesterday for sentence, and it is assumed that he managed to escape detection when passing with others from the cells to the exercise and ablution yard in .the half light of the'early morning. making godd his escape in a relatively simple manner. There was no damage to his Cell or station property to’indicate that he had made a forcible escape. A report was received that lie was seen in Falkland street, Maori Hill, a short time after his escape. He was then riding a woman’s bicycle. Blair is sft Bin in height, of medium build, and has a fresh complexion. He has long black hair with a slight wave. Sarted in the centre, and brown eyes. le was wearing air force trousers and a darker sports coat with light squares outlined in red, a pink shirt with lighter stripes, and black shoes. He had no hat. collar, or tie.