ESCAPE AND CAPTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15520, 30 January 1914, Page 8

ESCAPE AND CAPTURE.

MENTAL HOSPITAL PATIENT.

AN EXCITING CHASE.

ESCAPEE REACHES RANGES.

A TorKQ Maori who is a patient at the Auckland Mental Hospital escaped from that institution early yesterday morning and was at liberty until late in the afternoon, when he was captured in tho Wai l takere Ranges. His captors had a stern chase, which by ordinary routes covered fully 15 miles. The escapee hardly traversed this distance, however, on account of "the short cuts he used.

The Maori effected his escape by jumping over the wall surrounding the grounds of the hospital, and his absence was not immediately noticed. Sergeant Read and two warders commenced to trace tho man probably an hour or two after his escape. They found that he had swum across the arm of the harbour lying between Waterviow and Avondale, a distance of 200 yards, and thence he made his way across to tho Whau Creek, which he also crossed by swimming. He was next seen at Waikumote, about four miles from Avondale, proceeding along the railway line. Ultimately he reached the West Coast Road. Here the two warders obtained a vehicle, and between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. overtook the escapee on the top of tne ranges, in the vicinity of the waterworks. He had apparently walked the whole distance in a deliberate fashion. He was brought back to the institution without much difficulty.