GAOL ESCAPEES

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 May 1928, Page 5

GAOL ESCAPEES

STORY OF RECAPTURE. (Special to "Star.") AUCKLAND, May 30. The strenuous police search which has been in progress since Friday evening, when John Buckley and Frank Baller, two young men, escaped from Mount Eden gaol, under sensational circumstances, resulted in the capture of Baller at 11.30 this morning at Shark Bay in the vicinity of Kauri Point/ The capture was made by Detectives Knight and Davis, who were ' accompanied by Constable Bishop of Birkenhead. Baller was living in a tent, and had a supply of food. The police sprang a surprise bj r travelling overland, and after making a careful approach secured their man. The escapee was wearing civilian clothing. The two prisoners escaped from the Mount Eden gaol by scaling a down pipe on one of the high walls, climbing on to the roof of the building, and dropping to the ground below. Both men were able to drive motor cars, but it does not appear that they borrowed any cars, as they were captured in practically inaccessible country They are of New Zealand birth and have relatives in Auckland. Baller and Buckley are both habitual criminals, and have lengthy records. Buckley was sentenced in October .1925, to four years’ imprisonment for breaking, entering . and theft, and was declared an habitual criminal. His career of crime be-

gan in 1919. Baller was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on June 2, J last by Mr. Justice Herdman, after pleading guilty to nine charges of breaking, entering and theft, and was declared an habitual criminal. He had escaped from gaol previously in 1921, and was at large for several weeks. In that year he made his getaway by dropping from a watch tower, with the aid of knot-end blankets. Both prisoners are 26 years of age. Baller is regarded as the more dangerous and largely instrumental in arranging the Escape. The fact that it was hot the camping season and that it became known that a man had pitched a tent at Shark Bay, led the police party to make investigations, which, led to Baller’s capture. The camp was carefully reconnoitred and to prevent any escape an approach was made- from the land. side. On reaching the tent, the lone camper was recognised to be one of the wanted men, and he quietly surrendered. Baller will appear before the Police Court to-morrow morning, on a charge of breaking and entering. “It’s bad enough to get caught without you jokers coming round,” said Baller to the “Star” reporter and photographer, as he was being placed aboard the lona, the launch which the police used to bring the escapee back to Auckland. The “Star” launch arrived at Shark Bay some time before Baller was embarked ’by the police officers. Baller .looked quite jaunty, and evidently camp life had agreed with him. He was wearing a dark suit and a light garbicord rainproof overcoat with soft hat. Going into the bay, which is just around the corner from the Chelsea Sugar Refinery, it was noticed from the Press launch that there was a group of men standing on tfie beach, and the lona was nosing up to the shore. The party on the beach composed Detectives Knight, Davis, Moon, McWhirter, Acting-Detective Mills, a police constable and Baller. Baller was handcuffed.' Detective Knight took off his boots and socks and waded in to assist in bringing a dinghy close enough to the shore to get Baller aboard. Detective Davis assisted and Baller was transferred to the lona without as much as getting his feet damp. The other four detective remained behind i on the beach and as the launches left : for Auckland, they could be discerned making their way through the thick scrub.

On inquiries being made from Chelsea residents, this afternoon, it was learnt that the manager of the Chelsea sugar works at Chelsea, heard

sounds last night, as though someone was trying to get into the house? The gear that Baller had was brought back to Auckland on the lona. In addition to the tent, there was another large bundle which resembled the sails of a boat. He had ’food, bottles of coffee, and other provisions, besides a primus stove. A dinghy found in the Bay had evidently been stolen by Baller who quite obviously had prepared himself for a long stay in the bush on the other side of the harbour. Amongst his gear was also a yard by which a sail could be affixed to the dinghy. *