SENSATIONAL AFFAIR

Nelson Evening Mail, 19 May 1917, Page 4

SENSATIONAL AFFAIR

TAXI DRIVER'SEIZED. •STRUGGLE 'WITH ESCAPED' ' PRISONER. (Okitbd P-a*as Association.} HAMILTON, This Day. jA sensational affair -occurred on the Hamilton-Cambridge ' road yesterday, when a taxi driver named Edward Henry Peebles was assaulted by a man named Robin Jasper Crago, an escapeee from the. Waikiria Prison near .Teawamutu. Crago had engaged Peebles to drive him ■to Hamilton from Cambridge, and when about miles along the road, Crago said', "Ease her up," and as the car was stopping, Peebles felt a string go round his neck. The string was drawn tight, and Peebles became unconscious. The next thing he knew was that he •vjas struggling with Crago on the side of the car.

.Bath fell on to the road, Crago biting at Peebles's hands. (During the struggle, both separated and' jumped to their feet. Other caa's then came up and Crago was guarded until the police arrived. . (Crago stated that it was his intention to render -Peebles unconscious, seize the car and make his escape to Auckland. iPeebles's hands were badly lacerated and one nail was torn off. Crago, before the 'Court this morning, was charged with assault and! with heires an escapee from prison. Detective-Sergeant Cooney said that accused was serving a. sentence of ten years for attem-ptedi murder at Auckland. He escaped from Waikiria Prison on 18th May last.

Further charges are pending, and a remand was granted for a week. ■Crago was the actor in a sensational attempt to steal a motor-car at Devonport. Auckland, some years aoo, a revolver being used. He was then convicted and sentenced to ten years' reformative treatment.