TOBACCO KING’S FLIGHT

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 6 November 1933, Page 7

TOBACCO KING’S FLIGHT

| ESCAPE FROM SPANISH GAOL

REAL REASON FOR ARREST REFUSAL OF £50,000 GIFTDISCLOSURES AT GIBRALTAR. (United l?;ess .Association —By Electrlo Telegraph -Xjpyrighu.) Received 1.30 p.m to-day. LONDON, Nov. 5. Speaking to the “Daily Telegraph” by telephone from Gibraltar, the Spanish. tooacco king, Juan March, animatedly described his “escape” from prison at Alcala de Henares. He revealed the prison adjutant might also have accompanied him to Gibraltar because lie believed the “escape” - was justified, but remained behind to vindicate himself with the authorities. “I was really arrested in the first instance because 1 refused to contribute £50,000 to the Republican Government’s coffers after many months of imprisonment in Aladrid,” said March. “I was incarcerated at Alcala in the hope that they would assassinate me. Although I am a member of the High Court of Appeal, Spain’s highest tribunal, I was untried.” He prophesied victory to the Raght TVing parties at the forthcoming elections which would improve matters in. Spain. Alarch, whose extradition the Spanish Government is seeking, promises to return if the Spanish High Court validates his election as a member of the high court. The populace is feting the warder Vargas who assisted March to escape. Vargas declares he is not worrying about his job or imprisonment because he acted justly 7 in liberating an uncharged prisoner.