CAPTURED.

Northern Advocate, 26 January 1911, Page 3

CAPTURED.

DARLINGHURST ESCAPEES FOUND A MOTHER'S ANXIETY.. SYDNEY, Wednesday. Cyril George Pegg, alias James Mace, and Joseph Henry Denmead, ■who on Wednesday last successfully carried out a daring plan for escape from Darlinghurst Gaol, where they were awaiting trial, were recaptured yesterday morning at the residence of the latter's mother, Scouller-street Marrickville. The men made a big effort to get clear of the raiding detectives, but after a brief and exciting pursuit were secured.

For five days the whole of the metropolitan pciice force had been on the alert. All the likely places to which the escapees might go have been carefully watched, and pretty well every constable had digested sufficient information relating to the appearance of the two men, to enable them to be sure of them, or either of them, at sight. In these circumstances it is remarkable that they retained their liberty as long as they did. The police plans, however, were designed in the first instance to keep the men in the city, their arrest in the event of their attainment of that object being regarded as. merely a matter of time. Many persons, stimulated no doubt by admiration for the cleverness with which the escape was effected in daylight, and at a time when the streets were crowded, held to the opinion that the men who could carry out such a venture would surely make a clean job of it and get far away. As against this opinion it had to be remembered that the escapees had but a bare quarter of an hour's start. It is an extraordinary circumstance, too, that they should not have employed their liberty in an endeavour to get away from the city. Probably this was adjudged a risky business, and, as in the case of many former gaol-breakers, the pair were caught at the residence of a relative. The police surveillance had been especially close with regard to the homes of relatives or friends of Pegg and Denmead.

Throughout the whole time they have been at large officers had been posted in such a position as to take in all that happened at Mrs Denmead's cottage. The place was one easily watched, and Senior-Detective Fullerton, Detectives Ward, Darlington, Surridge, and Leary have been posted in back yards and lanes thereabouts, while an empty two-storied house almost opposite, afforded a fine viewpoint. The only remarkable thing is that the men got home without being noticed. Mrs Denmead's anxiety led to the final scene which occurred yesterday morning. Several times she had been anxiously looking about, and this conduct suggested to the watching detectives that the men were in the house awaiting an opportunity to get away. Senior-Detective Fullerton at once determined upon a bold move, and quietly hut effectively the police cordon closed in.

An officer knocked at the door, and en his being recognised, Pegg who was in the act of dressing, dashed out by the back entrance. The detective did not wait to be asked in. He went straight through, calling to Pegg, "Stand, or I'll shoot." But Pegg was not to be intimidated. The exploit of Wednesday last evidently prompted in him a spirit of emulation, and he vaulted the surrounding fence, about 6 or 7 feet high with the agility of a cat. "It was a great jump," said Fullerton subsequently. "He did not touch it with his feet," The next door neighbour, who was busy with her domestic duties, was greatly startled when Pegg burst in upon her. She fainted. But the police had effected an entrance by the front of this place and Pegg was secured. Denmead, too, was not inclined tc submit without an effort. He was observed by Detective Surridge making his way cautiously towards a window recess at the side of the house. On seeing the officer he doubled back and re-entered the house. A lively chase ensued from room to room, but finally Detectives Surridge and Ward came up with him and threw him across a bed. Neither prisoner offered any resistance to his captors—in fact, both regarded the escape as a subject for mirth. On the way to the Central Police Station, where they were charged with breaking gaol and remanded, Denmead was observed in an endeavour to get rid of a motor clock that was in his pocket. MACE'S SENSE OF HUMOR. James Mace, alias George Pegg (18) and Joseph Henry Denmead (20), were before Mr King, S.M., at the Central Court on a charge of escaping from Darlinghurst Gaol on January 11. Denmead appeared in the dock minus his coat and wearing a fancy vest. When the charge was read, Sub-In-spector Jones applied for a remand to the Water Police Court on Friday next. Mr King: The Water Police Courtwhy is that? Sub-Inspector Jones: That court is in the same district as the gaol: and there arc other charges of robbery pending against the accused. Sergeant Mankey: They lost no time in getting to work. Mace grinned.