BORSTAL ESCAPEE

Grey River Argus, 17 March 1942, Page 1

BORSTAL ESCAPEE

To Return to N.Z. AFTER TASMAN SEA VOYAGE. IN LAUNCH. (Rec 9.5) HOBART, March 16. Richard Cecil Humphreys, aged 22, whose arrival in a small launch, at-, ter crossing Tasman Sea, was reported last month, is to be extradited to New Zealand on a new charge of having escaped from Waikeria' Borstal Institution on September 20, of 1941, while under detention. The original charge of having stolen a‘ 27 foot auxiliary launch from Invercargill was withdrawn. He was proceeded against on two new Tasmanian charges —firstly, that of being without lawful means of support; and secondly, with having, at Swansea stolen a knapsack valued at 10s 6d. He pleaded guilty, and convict’ons were formally recorded. Humphreys appealed to the bench to permit him to join any of the services, rather than send him back to New Zealand, saying that he already had been in custody for a month. The Magistrate replied that he 'would liked to do that. He added that it was rather a pity that the New Zealand authorities were abandoning tRe more serious charge for another. The Magistrate asked Humphreys why he had not joined the Army in New Zealand. Humphreys replied th'at he had been working in a munitions factory. Detective Inspector Fleming, m asking for an extradition order, said that Humnhreys had escaped, from the Borsta’l Institution, had taken an .auxiliary launch, and had sailed it single-handed to Tasmania in twentythree days. An escort woul--’ take him back to New Zealand by the earliest available boat. Humnhreys was remanded for seven days.