ESCAPEE TAKEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20477, 11 February 1941, Page 4

ESCAPEE TAKEN

RUATORIA CAPTURE ON YACHT JEANNETTE ELEVEN DAYS' LIBERTY BREAK FROM CUSTODY After 11 days of liberty, during which he moved over a considerable area of country and also spent about a week at sea, Richard Humphreys, aged 22, an escapee from custody, was recaptured by the police in the early hours of this morning at Tuparoa. He was taken while asleep on the yacht Jeannette, which he boarded at Tauranga, and on which he had hoped to escape to Australia.

Humphreys was being transferred from Auckland to Waikeria prison when he escaped from custody, the manner of his escape indicating considerable ingenuity and daring. While n charge of a police constable, he made an excuse to leave the carriage of a train near Huntly, and though closely followed by the constable, he jumped over the railings guarding the passage between two carriages.

Return to Auckland

He later walked some distance up the line towards Auckland, and boarded a slow-moving stock train, from which he descended at Westfield, having travelled concealed in a sheeptruck. Making his way to Cornwall Park, Auckland, where he had left his camping gear concealed, he retrieved his belongings, and then made his way to Tauranga. The appearance of his photograph in an Auckland newspaper warned him that he might be recognised soon, and he bought provisions at Mount Maunganui and put them aboard the yacht Jeannette. On the night of Monday, February 3, he went aboard the vessel and set a course for White Island. He had formed the intention of escaping in the yacht to Australia, joining the A.I.F. there, and making a fresh start.

Found Asleep Aboard Yacht

Yesterday he dropped anchor in the bay at Tuparoa, a 1 few hundred yards offshore, and news of his arrival there was telephoned to Ruatoria. Constables J. W. Birch and V. L. Bag'ge set out after midnight, and at about 1.30 a.m. they boarded the yacht, found Humphreys asleep, and took him prisoner without trouble.

Humphreys was brought to Gisborne this morning, and is to be sent north to stand trial for his escape from custody.

The yacht Jeannette is the property of Mr. J, C. Dumbleton, Tauranga, and is a 20ft. vessel, fitted for deep-sea travel. She was partially provisioned and contained an amount of valuable gear, all of which was recovered when Humphreys was taken at Tuparoa. During her week at sea, the yacht came through some fairly brisk weather. A watch was kept on all sections of the coast, in case Humphreys should try to make a landing, and shipping was requested to keep a look-out for vessels answering to her description.