MENTAL PATIENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 November 1945, Page 2

MENTAL PATIENTS

FOUR AUCKLAND ESCAPEES

AUCKLAND, November 22. Four inmates of Avondale Mental Hospital escaped from the institution this afternoon. The police regard their escape with grave concern, and every effort is being made to find the men. Police from the central and suburban stations were called on for special extra duty as search parties, and every available car was used tonight. At about 4 o’clock this afternoon, four men were walking, under supervision, from an occupational area at the institution to their quarters, when they ran away. All the available members of the staff of the institution immediately began to search for them, and the police were advised. Men were sent out, and began searching in the Avondale district. The search is continuous, and the 'men who had completed their duty were replaced during the night. As the time passed without any result, the area being patrolled was extended to districts west of Avondale. The following are the men who escaped and their descriptions:— Ronald Burton Witten, aged 36, sft 10 J in in height; medium build; reddish complexion; dark hair; hazel eyes; deformed left scar on the right side of the jaw, dressed ini the grey institution clothing of grey) cotton drill. ■ ' Colin Da\fid Jarvis, aged 20; sft 8 Jin; fresh complexion; fair hair::

blue eyes; wearing institution clothing and a blue pullover. John Alexander Stone, aged 28; sft 2in; strong build; brown hair; grey eyes; wearing grey institution clothm Victor Lloyd Townsend, aged 26; sft 4in; slight build; grey eyes; wearing grey institution clothing; brown-ish-red pullover and brown shoes. NOT RECAPTURED. AUCKLAND” November 23. . Up till 1 p.rn. to-day none of the four male patients who escaped from the Auckland Mental Hospital late yesterday afternoon, had been recaptured. A large police force is searching Avondale and the adjacent districts. It is believed that at least two of the men spent the night in some rushes at the bottom of private property. The party is now believed to have'separated. It is also stated that-one of the escapees was seen to wade Whau Creek early this morning.