THE ESCAPED PRISONER

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9213, 16 November 1888, Page 5

THE ESCAPED PRISONER

MURRAY THE MAORI.

THE POLICE BAFFLED.

HE VISITS LYTTELTON.

DARING BURGLARIES.

A CLERGYMAN'S STATEMENT. [BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Christchurch, Thursday. Murray, the escaped Maori prisoner, has been seen at Lyttelton. The first report tho police received of Murray's presence in the vicinity of Lyttelton was about eight o'clock last night, when a note came from the master of the Orphanage, Mr. Brownlee, that while walking in the Domain several of his boys observed Murray hiding behind trees about 3 30 p.m., but for some reason best known to themselves they did not think the information worth telling to any one until at 10 o'clock, when Mr. Brownlee happened to hear one of the lads mentioning the fact, and he lost no time in informing the police. Sergeant O'Malley took all the available men round the Governor's Bay Road, with two orphanage boys for guides. They found the grass all trodden down around one of the trees, but the bird had flown. A thorough search was made, but without result. Murray's next adventure seems to have been ab the Rev. J. Hill's residence on Sumner Road, not more than two hundred yards from the police station, in a thickly-populated part of the town. This however, was not the only house he visited last night, for on waking up this morning, Mr. alder, who lives next door to Mr. Hill, found that his house had been entered, and Mr. Palmer had a like experience. His residence is a few yards further round the road. Mr. Hill states: —About two this morning I was awakened by a noise downstairs, and observed a flare of light moving about. I gob up, peeped downstairs, and listened. I saw that a light was coming from the front door along the hall. I waited a few minutes, and then saw a Maori holding a candle in his hand. He had evidently not heard me, and was peeping into my study, moving about without making the slightest noise. Although I had not previously seen Murray I concluded that he was the object of my gaze. I went into my son's room and woke him, and we both made a dash downstairs. At almost the first step we took the light disappeared, the intruder having evidently heard us. I made at once to the window, where I thought he had come in, and found it open. I lighted a candle and searched the rooms in the study. On the table I found a pair of boots am now wearing, doubtless placed ready for carrying away. On a small table in the hall was found a matchbox which he had emptied in the kitchen. We found two or three loaves of bread put together on the table. The coats in the hall were disarranged, a pipe and some tobacco missing, and also a cloth cap. This morning after daylight a large knife was found on the kitchen table. It had at one time been a carving knife, but had been ground down, and now resembled a dagger. It was very sharp at the point and both sides." Murray's visit to Mr. Nalder's was evidently undertaken in quest for food, for after robbing a safe, which was outside, of a joint of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and one of three pounds of butter, he effected an entrance through the back window and further ransacked the kitchen. Fortunately the door leading from the kitchen to the other portion of the house was locked. Although his visit to Mr. Palmer's was unobserved, there may be little doubt he was there, as in the other two cases he got in through the back window, and after helping himself to the good things in the kitchen, he commenced to ransack the other portions of the house. Some jam and bread were taken. He must go about in a noiseless manner, as it was nearly twelve o'clock before the occupants of the house, Harvey and Mrs. Palmer, retired to rest. As the robberies must have been committed before Mr. Hill's house was entered his time was short. Candle grease was found all along the passage, and in the drawing-room. Although walking about within a very few yards of the occupants of the house, he managed to get away unheard, and it is well for himself that he did so, for in the room, where Mr. Palmer slopt was a loaded revolver. After the first occasion on which he broke out of prison he robbed Harvey and Palmer's shop in Oxfordstreet, and ever since his second escape Mr. Palmer has taken the precaution of being prepared for him, as in Murray's presence he nad identified the articles stolen from his shop after his capture by Constable McCormack. It was only by a fluke that Murray missed getting possession of the revolver. Mr. Palmer had left it in the kitchen, and after going to bed was reminded of this by his wife, and at once went and brought it into his bedroom, otherwise Murray would certainly have gob it. A pair of boots and a valuable pipe were missed this morning from the house. Mr. Hill, jun., informed the police, and Constables Drake and Henry were on the hills in less than fifteen minutes. They searched about until eight o'clock, but discovered no trace.