WERAROA ESCAPEES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 77, 26 February 1930, Page 6

WERAROA ESCAPEES.

TRAVEL THROUGH ISLAND. BREAK GAOL AT PUKEKOHE. Per Press Association. PUKEKOHE, Feb. 25. A sensational escape was effected by three absconders from the Weraroa training farm from the Pukekohe lockup shortly after nnd-day to-day. The three youths, Dennis Ronald Bissett, Eric Alfred Chapman and John Henry Wilson, and two others cleared out from the Weraroa training farm at about midnight on Thursday last, their escape being aided bv a key which one of the party manufactured. It is understood that they borrowed a motor car from a nearby farm and when half a mile along the road were chased by farm attendants in another car. When racing along the road the car driven by the escapees broadsided in loose metal. The car stopped and the occupants jumped out, making good their escape in the darkness. The five split up into two parties, three going north and two going elsewhere. The three collected a wardrobe en route and it is believed that they boarded the truck of a goods train at Palmerston North labelled “New Plymouth’’ and left tho train at Lepperton Junction. They then -walked as tar as Mt. Messenger, where they hopped aboard a motor transport and reached Piopio. They gathered food at various stages of the journey and supplemented this by directing their attention to orchards.

At Piopio they “borrowed” a car and drove to Te Kuiti, thence to Hamilton and Wliitawliata, where they obtained more food. They replenished the benzine supply by syphoning from the tanks of cars left unattended at a roadside party. The escapees left for Oneliunga, where they spent practically the whole of vesterdav, and in the afternoon moved on to the King Country, but on arriving at Pokeno discovered that their benzine was almost exhausted. They entered

Mr Mcßobbie’s garage and lifted three eases of benzine. Mr Mcßobbie observed the act and went at full 'speed to Mercer to inform the police. He passed the trio on his journey and accompanied Constable Olson back. The three escapees were then arrested, and spent the night in the lock-up and appeared at the Pukekohe Police Court this morning, charged with the theft of three cases of benzine the property of W. C. Mcßobbie. As other charges are pending they were remanded to appear on March 5. They were placed in the Pukekohe lock-up shortly before mid-day and were to have been taken to Auckland prison by the 12.30 p.m. train. In the meantime, however, they forced the bars of the ceil door and escaped. The police are now scouring the district.