ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 11 December 1940, Page 6

ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY

MAN RE-ARRESTED AND COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE * NO LOCK ON CELL DOOR [United Press Association] WELLINGTON. This Day. The story of a thief’s return to the vicinity of his crime, his capture by civilians after a chase and his subsequent escape from an unlocked cell at Paekakariki was told in the Magistrate's Court when Roy James Whelan (30) pleaded guilty to theft and escaping from lawful custody. On looking out from the front window of his house at Pukerua Bay, said Arthur Kitchener Lindsay, storekeeper, he saw accused with a roll of electric flex under his arm. Witness went outside and approached Whelan as he was walking away with the flex, and as soon as accused saw him he dropped the flex and ran. Witness gave chase but lost accused in the scrub. He found other articles dropped by accused while being chased That evening he was seen near the place again and was caught by civilians and handed over to the police. Constable Peters said he took accused to Paekakariki, where he was placed in the lock-up cell. The door was closed on him and the outside door secured At about 9 p.m. he found that accused had escaped by breaking a window above the outside door. Counsel asked if accused had not complained of being hungry and thirsty and witness admitted he wanted some food and water. Counsel: “But none was given him while he was actually in the cell.” Witness: ‘Not at that time, but had he stopped here he would certainly have got it.” Witness said there was no lock on the cell door The bolt was just pushed in. Whelan put his hand through the peephole and slid the lock back. That was an easy matter. Accused who was re-arrested in Wellington. was committed by Mr Stout to the Supreme Court for sentence.