Police Swoop On Prison Escapee

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1948, Page 4

Police Swoop On Prison Escapee

AUCKLAND, Fri. (P.A.) .—Police patrols swooped on a parked car near Bethell’s Beach, on the West Coast, 27 miles from Auckland, and in dense scrub nearby, seized one of two men who escaped from Waikune prison farm on October 23,

He was Rangi Wilson, 20, threequarter caste Maori, who was serving a sentence for car conversion.

They are now hunting the other escapee, Bruce Dalton, 23, who bolted when the police arrived. DaHon was serving a sentence foi car conversion and theft. The first trace of the escapees was found between 5 and 6 o’clock this morning at Piha Beach, 12 miles from Bethells. Mr Alfred Davidson heard a commotion in a neighbouring bach. CALLED POLICE He saw what he took to be two Maoris in a parked car outside the bach.

The car was loaded with goods, including suitcases, a typewriter and radio. Mr Davidson was not satisfied with the answei's to his questions and when he saw another man in a dai'k blue saloon car farther down the l'oad his suspicion increased. He went to the postmaster and they telephoned the Henderson police who sent a constable to intercept the car. Sevei’al police cars ti-avelled swiftly from the city. The escapee ch'ove to Bethells Road and pulled into the scrub. Twenty-five police are now combing the bush for Dalton. The cai's used by the escapees were a blue saloon stolen last night from Dr Scriven, of Point Chevalier, and a car with Government markings, not yet identified..