FOURTH MAN ARRESTED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 267, 9 October 1940, Page 8

FOURTH MAN ARRESTED.

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Oct; 8

The discovery of two camps in the bush off the road to Rare Kare, on the west coast beyond Titirangi, was made this morning by the police following the arrest, at 6 a.m-, of the fourth prison escapee, David Fraser Watson, aged 28, a seaman and labourer, serving 18 months’ detention for arson. Watson was found by Superintendent J. Cummings, Sub-Inspector Hall and Detective Turgis in a clearing in the bush about 100 yards off the road leading to Kare Kare, and about 2£ mile's, from the well-known seaside resort.

The police party, headed by Superintendent Cummings, left Auckland about 3 o’clock this morning and searched the bush. At 6 o’clock they were going along the road when Superintendent Cummings sighted Watson behind bushes in a clearing. Watson was walking towards the police party and when called on to stop called out, “It’s a fair cop.” He was held by Superintendent Cummings and SubInspector Hall and was handcuffed by a constable. About 100 yards away the police found a pile of blankets and a tent (not erected), also a box containing food and tobacco, I our hundred yards farther in the bush a wellestablished camp was discovered. Thrown across two manuka poles was a green canvas motor-van cover, with two mica windows. This was covered by fern leaves to hide the cainp from view. The supplies found inside the camp filled two police cars. There were two tent covers, four large suitcases packed Vith goods, four kerosene boxes filled with tinned food, small sacks of flour, oatmeal, cornflakes, candles, matches, tobacco, etc. . Also installed in the camp was a modern five-valve portable radio sot, the leads of which were attached to a six-volt motor-car battery. The set was in perfect order, and before dismantling it the police listened in to the IYA programme coming through at loud volume. The police told a reporter there was reason to believe the three escapees arrested yesterday had also been in the camp. , , Watson was brought to the Central Police Station, wearing flannel trousers, a white sweater, an old black coat, and white tennis shoes, but hatless. He was not in the same good condition as the. other escapees, and immediately after a good breakfast of bacon and eggs he rolled himself up in blankets in a police cell and went to sleep.